Restaurateur calls for VAT cut amid town closures

Restaurant owner Daniel Bond said a VAT cut would help the hospitality industry

Cuts to VAT for the hospitality industry could save pubs and restaurants from closure, a business owner has said.

Daniel Bond, who runs restaurant Dan's at The Crown in Marlborough, Wiltshire, said tax cuts could enable his business to "thrive" instead of struggling "to survive".

His comments come days after the closure of chef Rick Stein's restaurant on Marlborough's High Street. The Marlborough pub, formerly known as The Sun Inn, and a branch of Costa Coffee have also closed in the town in recent months.

A government spokesperson said: "Pubs, cafes and restaurants are vital to local communities, that's why we're cutting the cost of licensing, lowering their business rates."

The spokesperson added that the government had also been "helping more hospitality businesses offer pavement drinks and al fresco dining, on top of cutting alcohol duty on draught pints and capping Corporation Tax".

Mr Bond said: "Over a year ago we had 14 independent restaurants, we had five pubs doing food along the High Street. Now I think we've got nine - only nine of those restaurants going, and only two of those pubs doing food.

"For us as small business owners it feels like we're working really hard just to pay the government."

Mr Bond said he believed a VAT cut for pubs and restaurants would make a big difference.

He added: "For businesses that are slipping, if they could have even a small break where they could get that money back in, use that to go back into the business and then that can just rejuvenise the whole industry."

The Rick Stein restaurant on Marlborough High Street closed on 5 October

'It's a real shame'

Rick Stein's restaurant closed on 5 October, with the chef and team releasing a statement to thank "everyone who has dined with us and supported us here over the years".

Shoppers in Marlborough have expressed their dismay at food outlets closing in the town.

Bruce Mason, from nearby Great Bedwyn, said: "I'm an ex-publican so I do appreciate to run a business like that, and business rates are through the roof. It's a real shame as it's a lovely High Street."

Margaret Wheatley, who said she visits Marlborough every week, added: "Marlborough is not a hard-up place, there's a lot of quite wealthy people who live around here.

"If shops and businesses can't be sustained here, places like Swindon, where we come from, don't stand a hope do they?"