Banker's Draft

Amazing staff, went in while waiting for a tram and met the most amazing bar staff. The young woman who served us the different bombs tonight was friendly, professional and an asset to the bar.

Hopefully our memory of Sheffield will be a good one and not tainted by a hangover in the morning.

On Thursday, 12th September, Wetherspoon pubs across Sheffield held a VAT protest aimed at highlighting the tax disparity between pubs and supermarkets. The protest, led by managers from popular venues such as The Bankers Draft and Benjamin Huntsman, was part of a broader initiative within the pub chain to raise awareness of the unfair VAT burden faced by the hospitality sector.

At the centre of the protest was Jonathon Atkinson, the manager of The Bankers Draft pub in Sheffield's city centre. Atkinson, with over 20 years of experience in hospitality, voiced his concerns about the 20% VAT rate imposed on food and drink served in pubs. By contrast, supermarkets benefit from a zero percent VAT on food sales. He explained how this tax inequality puts pubs at a disadvantage, forcing them to charge higher prices than they might otherwise.

"We just want a fair playing field," Atkinson said. "Pubs have been under incredible pressure for decades due to the tax disadvantages with supermarkets. It doesn’t make sense for the hospitality industry to subsidise this discrepancy."

As part of the protest, Wetherspoon pubs across Sheffield lowered their prices by up to 7.5% for the day. The initiative, called "Tax-Equity Day," aimed to spotlight the economic pressure that the current VAT system places on pubs. According to Atkinson, the protest was not only about prices but also about highlighting the role of pubs in society.

"Pubs play an important role in society for everyone," Atkinson remarked. "We allow people to not feel lonely and spend their hard-earned money in the city centre, which helps grow the wider economy. These protests aim to encourage people to go out and enjoy themselves, while also raising awareness for our customers and local officials about the need for tax reform."

The VAT rate on pub food and drink has been 20% since it was increased from 17.5% in 2011, but the protests signal ongoing frustration within the industry. The hope, as expressed by Atkinson, is to get officials to reconsider how VAT is applied to the hospitality sector, potentially reducing the tax burden and levelling the playing field between pubs and supermarkets.

Ten Wetherspoon pubs across Sheffield took part in the campaign, which mirrored similar protests across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland on the same day. The Wetherspoon chain's efforts reflect a growing movement within the industry to push for tax reform, as pubs struggle to remain competitive in the face of higher costs and shrinking profit margins.

As the protest concluded, it remained to be seen if the message would reach government officials. But for the landlords and patrons of Sheffield's pubs, the call for fairness was loud and clear.