Carrickfergus pub supports call to lower VAT

The Central Bar in High Street will be cutting the price of all food and drink by 7.5 percent on Thursday September 24, Tax Equality Day.

The prices at the Wetherspoon pub will be reduced for one day only.

At present, all food and drink in pubs is subject to five percent VAT as a result of the VAT cut by the Chancellor on July 15.

However, this is only set to continue until January 12, 2021, when it will return to 20 percent.

By comparison, supermarkets benefit from a zero VAT rate on all food, meaning they are able to sell alcohol at a discounted price.

The pub’s manager, Michael Morgan, said: “We are proud to support the campaign to reduce the level of VAT within the hospitality industry.

“Customers coming to The Central Bar on Thursday September 24 will find the price of their food and drink is lower than normal.

“Pubs have been under fantastic pressure for decades due to the tax disadvantages we have with the supermarkets.

“We’re very grateful to the Chancellor for reducing the tax disparity between supermarkets and pubs to five per cent.

“We are urging the Chancellor to create tax equality between pubs and supermarkets by making the current VAT regime for pub food and soft drinks permanent.”