Wetherspoon pubs cut prices on all food and drink for one-day tax protest

JD Wetherspoon is today cutting the price of food and drink in all of its pubs in a protest over tax.

For one day only the immensely popular chain is slashing 7.5 per cent off all food and drink at outlets in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The unusual move is in protest at the 20 per cent VAT currently levied on pubs, compared to the 0 per cent VAT on food in supermarkets.

That allows large retailers to save money and subsequently lower their alcohol prices, undercutting pubs and restaurants.

Wetherspoon is joined in protest by thousands of other pubs to mark national Tax Equality Day.

The chain’s Brexit-backing chairman, Tim Martin said: “We are proud to support the campaign to reduce the level of VAT in the pub industry.

"On Tax Equality Day, customers in our pubs will find the price of their drinks and food to be lower than normal. We are keen to highlight the amount which customers would save, if VAT in pubs were lowered permanently."

He added that a reduction in VAT would generate growth and create jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector.