Islanders heading to either of the Isle of Wight’s Wetherspoon pubs on Thursday will see the price of every food and drink item cut by 7.5% – but the reduction will last for just 1 day.
S. Fowler & Co. in Union Street, Ryde, and The Man in the Moon in St James Street, Newport, will reduce their prices tomorrow (17th September) as part of Tax Equality Day.
The nationwide initiative aims to highlight calls for a reduction in VAT for the hospitality industry.
For example, a meal and drinks which would normally cost a total of £10 will be reduced to £9.25 during the promotion.
The discount will apply to all food and drink at both Isle of Wight pubs for the duration of Thursday only, before prices return to normal.
Wetherspoon says the initiative is designed to demonstrate how customers could benefit if VAT charged to pubs was permanently reduced.
At present, food and drink sold in pubs is subject to 20% VAT, while supermarkets benefit from a zero VAT rate on food.
The pub chain argues that this allows supermarkets to use the saving to sell alcohol at discounted prices and is calling for greater tax equality for the hospitality sector.
Steven Newby, Manager of S. Fowler & Co., has said:
“We are proud to support the campaign to reduce the level of VAT within the hospitality industry.
“Customers coming to the pub on Thursday 17 September will find the price of their food and drink is lower than normal.
“We are keen to highlight the amount customers could save if VAT in pubs was lowered permanently.
“A reduction in the level of VAT on a long-term basis will generate growth and create jobs in the important hospitality sector and help the high street, of which pubs are an integral part.”
….In order to keep the drunks drunk on the cheap and Tim Martin (fine advocate of lower taxation, promoter of Brexit and Reform and with a personal wealth of £450m) somehow still managing to employ largely immigrants (oh the irony) at minimum wage. Question: If costs are so high thus affecting growth Tim, how come your wealth keeps on increasing, hmm?
VAT is a luxury tax. If people can afford disposable income to drink like fish and stuff their faces after basic costs, then tax them. After all, not much ‘saving’ to be had by spending, is there?
Sunshine, you spent last week telling Islanders they were poor, squeezed and lied to and now a price cut at Spoons is “keeping the drunks drunk on the cheap” and “stuffing their faces.” You really are a terrible snob. Wetherspoons is full of all sorts, rich and poor, it is good value and friendly. You should get out more and be a bit more open minded.
Spot on with your comment.
No, it’s not snobbish to understand that many of the people complaining about living costs still manage to go out to eat and drink. Or that Tim Martin and Wetherspoons could easily absorb any increased costs and still add to their coffers, without passing said costs on to consumers. Less VAT revenue would equal fewer services for ALL. Price cuts for the few who can clearly already afford to eat out as they have disposable income therefore rewards them and further penalises the poor who rely on those services. Without a drink and a meal out to soften the day-to-day grind of their existences.
Stay in & don’t socialise then but don’t begrudge those who want to go out & have a life. Wetherspoons provides a cheaper pub price for those who want to have a social drink. People don’t do into business to lose money. Do you expect businesses to run as charities?
Totally agree with you
Well done spoons so many other pubs take the piss with
their prices.
Looking forward to the savings.