Restaurateur Jamie Barber, owner of the Villandry and Kitchen Italia brands, has called for large restaurant companies to do more to persuade the government to support the industry and believes the larger chains have a duty to act over issues such as VAT.
“I think the big boys need to take more responsibility because they’ve got the biggest voice,” he told Restaurant magazine. “It’s almost like when you become a film star and you have to sign autographs – I think when you’re a big boy in this industry, you have to take on a bit of political lobbying for the benefit of everybody.”
In line with other commentators, Barber predicts VAT will rise to 20 per cent in 2010 and foresees a tough year ahead for the restaurant trade. He believes the government should give the restaurant industry special treatment regarding VAT as governments do in other parts of Europe.
“We’re one of the single largest sectors of employment in the UK and everything needs to be done to protect this industry,” he said. “I would support any kind of lobbying to get the restaurant sector treated as it is in France in a lower VAT category. Restaurants have been demanding and have been successful in getting lower VAT treatment there.”
Restaurants in France have had to pay just 5.5 per cent VAT since July 2009. Barber added: “If you look at the very large UK chains, by virtue of the very large numbers of people they employ, it would only take three or four of these guys to get together and make an effective lobby.”
See the January issue of Restaurant magazine, out tomorrow, for the full interview with Jamie Barber.