Welcome to the latest issue of CLH Digital

“Unfulfilled potential”, the promise and ambition which does not come to fruition no matter where it manifests is one of life’s great disappointments

To my mind the hospitality sector meets the criteria of “unfulfilled potential” A news ar ticle on page 9 reveals that a record 2 6 million people are now employed in accommodation and food ser vice , with the sector creating one in five new jobs

Another repor t reveals that there has been substantial progress ” the sector’s recover y, which all point to a potential positive future for the sector

However I strongly suspect that the creation of jobs, and progress made for the future are in spite of government policy and not because of it

It would, in my opinion, be a bit of a travesty for them to take credit for the hard work, entrepreneurialism, resilience and dedication the sector is showing in the most difficult trading times in modern memor y

Our page one lead stor y issues a ver y stark warning indeed But it is not just shor t-term suppor t the sector needs when he was Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that taxes on draught beer and prosecco will be slashed in “sweeping changes” to alcohol duty that reward lower-strength drinks

Our now Prime Minister said that the UK’s 380 year old system of alcohol duty was “outdated, complex and full of historical anomalies”

Sunak’s five-point plan, which takes effect this year, will allegedly simplify the tax brackets at an overall cost to the Treasur y of £555m by 2027 The plans will cut the cost of a range of drinks, but increase the duty levied on wine with alcohol content above 11%, such as high-strength ciders and for tified wines like por t and Buckfast

We are taking advantage of leaving the EU to announce the most radical simplification of alcohol duties for over 140 years We’re taking five steps today to create a system that is simpler, fairer, and healthier ” He said in October 2021

In a separate measure the then Chancellor said would help pubs struggling because of the effect of the pandemic , announcing “draught relief ” , cutting the tax on drinks ser ved from pumps, such as beer and cider, by 5% The duty cut will bring down the cost of a pint by 3p, or as much as 25p for beer below 3 5% ABV

However, the sector has come under increasing pressure , and our lead ar ticle reveals that data from Oxford Economics estimates on-trade beer sales will decline by 9% in 2023/4 This equates to one million fewer barrels of beer sold (288 million pints) and 25 000 potential job losses in pubs and the wider industr y

So, the message to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is to act swiftly and decisively and comprehensively to suppor t the sector It is not as though he hasn’t been previously warned As often stated I was par t of a highly charged and emotional protest outside the Treasur y in November last year where speaker after speaker spoke of the struggles they face and also the anger at government apathy

So I do hope that the Chancellor recognises the potential the sector has and, instead of stifling that potential with redtape and taxes, he throws his suppor t behind the sector which in the long run will result in more money for the Treasur y

Another new stor y on page 5 took my eye A repor t reveals that the majority of consumers (81%) are planning to stay in a UK hotel in 2023, as cost-of-living pressures deter them from taking trips abroad

And I am one of them! I have rediscovered our natural beauty here in the UK after years of going abroad I haven t had a holiday abroad since 2019 and am looking forward to many shor t breaks here in the UK, beginning next week with a stay in Padstow!

Mixing work with pleasure! We have a trade show, Expowest Cornwall at Wadebridge on Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th March, so please do pay us a visit It is always great to get feedback, and I will be making a point of asking visitors to the show what their opinions are for the for thcoming budget

I would remind you once again to consider lobbying your MP We are not that far away from a general election and they will be desperate to keep their seats and I have said in recent weeks that a campaign by ever ybody involved in the hospitality sector to contact your current MP and all parliamentar y candidates and get a definitive answer on what their opinion is on hospitality VAT and whether they would suppor t a cut from the current rate to 12 5% for at least a two-year period I have written to my current sitting MP and I’m still waiting an answer!

One more thing! Once again I would ask the favour - we want more Twitter followers! So please do follow us on Twitter and encourage as many people you know in the trade to subscribe to our digital issue Fur ther details can be seen at www catererlicensee com

The Caterer Licensee & Hotelier News Group is published by RBC Publishing Ltd Suite 4 Roddis House Old Christchurch Rd however, no responsibility will be accepted for loss or damage Views expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the care when compiling this publication to ensure accuracy, the publisher will assume no responsibility for any effects, errors or omissions therefrom written permission is obtained All material is assumed copyright free unless otherwise advised