Dorset Needs You!

Stand Up for the Hospitality We Love

You visit Dorset because of the warmth of a local pub, the character of an independent restaurant, a cream tea with a view, the charm of a coastal hotel or a summer festival field. These places are the heart of what makes this county special. But they are under threat.

The UK charges 20% VAT on hospitality, the second highest rate in Europe. France, Italy and Spain pay 10%. Germany just 7%. That gap is pushing brilliant businesses to the brink.

Andy Lennox (pictured below), owner of local hospitality firms such as The Sunray, The Old Thatch, The Goods Yard, Nusara Thai, and runs national campaign lobby group The Wonky Table, has been fighting for change for years. As he says, "Hospitality is the UK's third-largest employer. We create jobs, support communities, drive tourism, keep high streets vibrant and contribute billions to the economy. Yet we continue to operate with one of the highest hospitality VAT rates in Europe. That simply doesn't make sense."

Image credit Chefs Forum

He's right. And this isn't just a Dorset problem. Across the UK, 100,000 hospitality jobs have been lost in just two years. A fairer VAT rate of 10% should help to stop that number from growing.

Add your voice at www.vatstheproblem.co.uk and help protect the places we all love.