JD Wetherspoon pubs across Ayrshire to reduce prices for one day

Ayrshire pub goers are set to benefit from a campaign to reduce VAT in the hospitality industry.

JD Wetherspoon's campaign to reduce VAT will be marked by the firm's Ayrshire outlets on Thursday, September 12 as they reduce the price of all food and non-alcoholic drinks by 7.5 per cent.

Prices will be reduced at The West Kirk in Ayr, The Prestwick Pioneer, The Wheatsheaf Inn in Kilmarnock, The Auld Brig in Irvine and The Salt Cot in Saltcoats on a day dubbed “Tax Equality Day” by the JD Wetherspoon campaign.

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Part of the campaign is to highlight that all food and drink sold in pubs is subject to 20 per cent VAT in comparison to supermarkets where some food and drinks deemed essentials are not subject to VAT.

Wetherspoons claim supermarkets “are able to use that saving to sell alcohol to its customers at a discounted price”.

Alcohol and non-essential food and drinks sold in supermarkets are subject to VAT at 20 per cent.

Daniel Quinn, manager of The Auld Brig, said: “Customers coming to The Auld Brig on Thursday, September 12, will find the price of their food and non-alcoholic drink is lower than normal.

“It’s 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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