Wetherspoons pubs up and down the nation will be offering a major reduction to all items from their menus for one day, and one day only, today.
The chain, founded in 1979, is offering a hearty 7.5 per cent off all food and drink as part of a campaign to save British pubs.
‘Tax Equality Day’ - held each year by Spoons - is a day on which prices are cut, in order to show the Government the benefits of a VAT tax reduction for those in the hospitality industry.
Under current rules, all food and drinks served by pubs, restaurants and cafes in the hospitality sector are subject to 20 per cent VAT.
However, supermarkets pay zero per cent on food sales, and can therefore use that benefit to lower the cost of beer.
Wetherspoon’s founder and chairman, Tim Martin, has commented on this issue, saying: “Pubs have been under fantastic pressure for decades, because of the tax disadvantages which they have with supermarkets.
“A VAT cut to 12.5 per cent is needed to ensure that pubs, bars and restaurants do not continue to close, but instead thrive, invest and create new jobs.”
As it stands, our British pubs are at risk, with an average of eight closing their doors for good every single week.
Over 200 shut permanently in the first six months of this year alone.
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Wetherspoon’s founder and chairman, Tim Martin, said 'pubs have been under pressure for decades'
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And punters are starting to notice, asking the Government to do more to support their beloved boozers.
Speaking to GB News, one man said: “You can lower the tax, you bring more people into the pubs, it boosts the economy - everybody’s a winner.”
Another man described the importance of pubs to local communities, saying, “without it, people are lost. This is where people meet friends; this is where people get support. We need it.”
When asked by GB News for a comment on a potential cut in VAT for the hospitality industry, a spokesperson from the Treasury said: “Pubs, cafes and restaurants are vital to local communities, that's why we’re cutting the cost of licensing, helping more pubs, cafes and restaurants offer pavement drinks and al fresco dining, and extending business rates relief for these businesses.
“This is on top of cutting alcohol duty on draught pints while increasing supermarket alcohol in line with inflation and capping corporation tax.”