Pubs chief tells Chancellor: Cut VAT or thousands will lose jobs

FULLER’S boss has urged the Chancellor to cut VAT to prevent thousands of job losses across the hospitality industry.

As England’s pubs finally begin to reopen today, Simon Emeny cutting the levy on goods and services is vital to entice punters back to their pubs and avoid wholesale redundancies.

Emeny, who said he would be heading straight into a pub as soon as they open at midday, is planning to reopen just 27 of Fuller’s 215 own-managed inns today.

The remainder of its 177 pubs, which are run by tenants, should all be open by the end of next week.

He told the Mail: ‘Pubs are an enormous employer, but clearly what none of us know is what demand will be like when we reopen.

‘If we’re going to bring all of these employees back to work, we’re going to need the Government to bring in stimulus.’

He said that VAT should be temporarily lowered from its current rate of 20pc down to 5pc.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has come under pressure to cut VAT in his emergency summer statement on Wednesday, in which he will lay out plans to kick-start the economy.

Sunak is said to have cooled on the idea, telling Tory MPs not to expect big tax cuts. But, according to the Financial Times, he will also study how England reacts to the reopening of pubs before making a final decision. If there is evidence of pent up demand then a VAT cut may be deemed unnecessary.

Many worry that today, which has been dubbed ‘Super Saturday’, could see thousands descend on their local after weeks of being restricted to drinking at home.

Emeny is not too concerned: ‘People go to pubs to socialise with their friends and families, and I think they’ll behave well.’