Heineken UK, Britain’s biggest brewer, is the latest high profile company to join the Jacques Borel VAT Club, which is campaigning to reduce VAT to 5% in the UK hospitality industry.
The VAT Club now has almost 40 members across the pub, restaurant, hotel, brewing and foodservice sectors. These include Pizza Hut, Road Chef, TGI Friday’s, JD Wetherspoon, Shepherd Neame, Fuller’s, Charles Wells, St Austell and Subway.
Lawson Mounstevens, on-trade managing director for Heineken UK, the UK’s leading beer & cider business, said: “We are committed to the Great British pub, both through our direct ownership of 1,300 houses and the circa 50,000 that we supply on a weekly basis.
“A reduced VAT rate on food and drinks offered by pubs, clubs and bars would provide a much-needed boost to the sector, stimulate investment and likely create jobs. The VAT club has already successfully put this campaign on the radar for many in the industry and Heineken is only too pleased to support Mr Borel in his very important work.”
Jacques Borel said: “I am delighted to welcome Heineken to membership of my VAT Club. As the UK’s largest beer and cider business, as well as the owner of 1,300 pubs, the company understands the huge employment benefits that would be achieved if the UK government follows the lead of countries across Europe and reduces VAT to create a powerful job creation stimulus.”
