Northamptonshire pub chain operator calls for more help for hospitality
Richard Gordon is the Managing Director at Greedy Gordons
An award winning Northamptonshire pub chain owner says he hopes the government will do something 'big and bold' to help the hospitality industry in next month's budget.
Around 10 pubs have closed locally in the past year.
Richard Gordon of Greedy Gordons is bucking the trend for closures, picking up awards recently for some of his venues in the county.
Despite the recent accolades, Richard says in his 7 years in business it's been hard for hospitality to survive:
"We've had the cost of living and war in Ukraine which has put prices through the roof and made things difficult, not just for us but across the board.
"Disposable incomes have come down, mortgages have gone up and interest rates have increased. It's felt a pit of negativity when it comes to people having the resources to go out.
"It all hits pockets hard, and people need to afford to be able to go out. We're always the first ones to notice when people are making cutbacks."
"A decrease in VAT for hospitality would be a huge help to our industry, whether it's over a term of Government or whenever. It would help stop so many pubs from having to shut."
"People are losing their community hubs, without this. It's really sad and it's down to the powers that be. The move would be something big and bold."