J D Wetherspoon is slashing food and drink prices for one day only to highlight tax burden
![JD Wetherspoon logo in pub](https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/jd-wetherspoon-logo-in-pub.jpg?id=36331156&width=1200&height=800&quality=90&coordinates=140%2C0%2C140%2C0)
JD Wetherspoon will cut prices on food and drinks in its pubs for one day only
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JD Wetherspoon will cut prices on food and drinks in its pubs for one day only
JD Wetherspoon will cut the prices of all food and drinks for one day this week in a bid to highlight the tax burden on the hospitality industry.
The chain will slash prices by 7.5 per cent in pubs across the UK and Ireland on Thursday, September 14.
It means a customer spending £10 on food and drinks would pay £9.25 instead.
Prices in Scotland will be cut on food and non-alcoholic drinks, in line with Scottish licensing laws.
JD Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin said he wants to expose the “vast disparity” in how pubs and restaurants are taxed, compared with supermarkets
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JD Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin said: “The biggest threat to the hospitality industry is the vast disparity in tax treatment among pubs, restaurants and supermarkets.
“Supermarkets pay zero VAT in respect of food sales, whereas pubs and restaurants pay 20 per cent.
“This tax benefit allows supermarkets to subsidise the selling price of beer.
“Pubs have been under fantastic pressure for decades because of the tax disadvantages which they have with supermarkets.”
The one-day price cut marks Wetherspoon’s “Tax Equality Day”, and aims to highlight the benefit that a permanent VAT reduction would have on pubs and restaurants across the UK.
Mr Martin argued the disparity in tax rules means the hospitality industry is subsiding supermarkets.
He said: “We urge the Chancellor to create tax equality between pubs and supermarkets.”
Mr Martin has previously argued that the lower price of beer in supermarkets has put some customers off getting a pint at their local pub.
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Wetherspoon runs 827 pubs in the UK and Ireland, as of July
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Food and drinks in pubs are subject to 20 per cent VAT.
Supermarkets pay zero VAT on food and Wetherspoon claims they are able to use that saving to sell alcohol to customers at a discounted price.
As of July, Wetherspoon runs 827 pubs in the UK and Ireland.
GB News has contacted HM Treasury asking for comment.