Wiltshire branches of pub giant Wetherspoon are set to lower their prices for one day as bosses slam “unfair” VAT rules.
The popular chain has confirmed prices will be slashed by 7.5 per cent at pubs on Thursday, September 14, including The Silk Mercer in Devizes and The Bridge House in Borough Parade, Chippenham.
This offer is intended to highlight the benefits of a permanent VAT reduction in the hospitality industry and has been labelled Tax Equality Day.
All food and drink in pubs is currently subject to 20 per cent VAT while supermarkets currently pay no VAT on these products, allowing them to sell alcohol at discounted prices.
Local branch managers Christopher Stevens, of The Bridge House, and Samantha Andrews, of the Silk Mercer, have slammed the “unfair” disparity.
The pair said: "It is unfair that supermarkets pay zero VAT on food, but pubs pay 20 per cent."Pubs have been under fantastic pressure for decades due to the tax disadvantages it has with supermarkets.
"The tax benefit allows supermarkets to subsidise the selling price of beer, it doesn't make sense for the hospitality industry to subsidise supermarkets.
"We urge the Chancellor to create tax equality between pubs and supermarkets."
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