Shropshire pub meal prices slashed in campaign for lower VAT
Pubs and restaurants across Shropshire will slash their prices today as part of a nationwide campaign to bring down the rate of VAT.
Major national chains such as JD Wetherspoon, which has around seven pubs across the county, Pizza Hut, which has two restaurants in Telford and one in Shrewsbury, and Punch Taverns, which has six pubs in Shropshire, will all cut their prices for one day only.
It is part of a nationwide campaign demanding the government cuts the rate of VAT from 20 per cent to five per cent, in a bid to reinvigorate the restaurant and pub industry.
Thousands of smaller independent pubs and restaurants across the country will also take part in Tax Parity Day by cutting their own prices to reflect lower VAT.
In total 10,000 outlets will cut their prices.
Campaign founder Jacques Borel said: "Tax parity Day demonstrates that our call for a five per cent VAT rate for UK hospitality has real support from thousands of businesses and local communities right across the country.
"We urge UK politicians to listen to their calls and realise the economic and social benefits a VAT reduction would deliver," he added.
The change in the tax rate would, campaigners insist, create between 290,000 and 670,000 new jobs in the UK's hospitality, with the bulk arriving in restaurant, pub and cafe businesses, and the remainder in catering and hotels.
Even excluding alcohol from the deal could still create up to 454,000 jobs.
Wetherspoon owns Montgomery's Tower and the Shrewsbury Hotel in Shrewsbury, Wellington's William Withering, The Thomas Botfield in Telford, Oswestry's The Wilfred Owen, The Hippodrome in Market Drayton and Bridgnorth's Jewel of the Severn.
Punch has the Beehive in Shifnal, Telford's Bucks Head and the Hare and Hounds, The Cock Inn in Shrewsbury, The White Lion in Oswestry and, in Bridgnorth, The Woodberry Down.
