Grammy nominated singer songwriter, Will Francis, has written an inspiring pub anthem “Pubs Hold The Answer” in support of 5% VAT for the hospitality industry. The pub anthem can be seen on our You Tube Channel here.
It will be interesting to follow to what degree this video anthem is viewed by the great British public. If you support the 5% VAT campaign why not forward this video to friends and colleagues by email, just copy the URL in our You Tube Channel and email it.
Singer songwriter Francis commented on the release, “Despite their recent rebuff the Treasury must listen to reason and seriously consider reducing VAT to 5% for pubs, restaurants and hotels for the long term good of the country and the Exchequer.
“Pubs provide a supervised, responsible drinking environment – unlike supermarkets – employ almost a million people and raise approximately £110M for charity each year.
Pubs also generate some £12.6billion in taxes each year although this is in decline under the current taxation model as more and more pubs close due, in part, to excessively high taxes! Over 5,000 pubs have closed in the past 5 years and there are still 25 pubs closing every week.”
This doesn’t have to be the case though. An extensive study by Jacques Borel, who successfully lobbied for a 5.5% VAT for the hospitality industry sector in France (creating 21,000 jobs in its first year), suggests up to 320,000 jobs could be created here in the UK under a similar scheme. 5% VAT would lead to more people eating and drinking in a supervised environment, encourage more tourists into the country and represent a highly cost effective method of job creation.
Trevor Heyburn, Managing Director of hospitality stocktakers and auditors Venners, said: “We are acutely aware of the difficulties pubs face today and of the great opportunity the Government has to positively impact society, jobs and the economy through our sector. So we are delighted to stream “Pubs Hold The Answer” through our website and facebook and encourage everyone to do so. By sending the link to your friends, colleagues and customers via your social media you can help raise awareness of all the great work pubs do, the difficulties they face and support 5% VAT for the hospitality industry…after all “Pubs” and the wider hospitality industry “Hold The Answer”.
The single “Pubs Hold The Answer” by Will Francis will be digitally released at the end of August and will then be downloadable from I-tunes etc.
Further information on singer songwriter Will Francis is available at www.willfrancismusic.com
Venners
Venners founder, Edwin Venner, was knighted in recognition of his services to the Government regarding the licensed trade and the Defence of the Realm Act 1914.
Essentially Edwin helped the Government to moderate the country’s drinking and improve the wartime effort by lowering the strength of alcoholic beverages (particularly gin) and restricting pub opening times etc.
Although unpopular at the time as well as contradictory to his own company’s ethics and detrimental to his family’s pub and brewing business, Sir Edwin saw the greater good and “did his bit” to help the country and the Government secure victory.
Established in 1896 Venners have long been recognised as the market leader in all stock and audit related matters in the Hospitality Sector.
Over the years its services have evolved to include Pub Tenancy Support, Compliance Audits, Food, Fire and Health & Safety, Inventory/Valuations and Event Profit & Control.
With over 150 fully employed, stocktakers and auditors, Venners offer a genuine service throughout all of the UK and is the only company of its type to have its training accredited by the BII. Venners is a member of Christie Group.