Snug Bars and Laine Pub Company sign up to Tax Equality Day

The day will see participating operators reduce their prices by 7.5% in a bid to show what effect a VAT cut to 5% would have.

Giles Fry, managing director of Snug Bars, said: “I am supporting Tax Equality Day as it does exactly what is says on the tin. It allows me to air my views on a subject that affects my teams, my guests and my family.

“Snug Bars is only a small business and really takes to heart the three words: Tax - we are proud to pay our fair share of taxes. Taxes are a necessary method for distributing wealth amongst the citizens of a nation, for the benefit of all; Equality - Put simply, it’s all about being fair. The costs of producing and serving food and drink to our guests, are far greater than those huge companies that mass produce and pay No Tax; Day - Under the current VAT rules, we can only sustain an initiative such as this, for one day, unless the VAT rate changes to allow us to reduce prices every day. “

Gavin George, chief executive of Laine Pub Company, said: “We've been offering a tax parity price on our Laine's Best in certain pubs for some years in order to raise awareness of the disparity with supermarkets and originally to campaign for a cessation of the duty escalator.  Tax Equality Day will help ramp up awareness of the former, a necessity if we are ever to achieve a result like the latter.”

Jacques Borel, who is leading the campaign to cut the rate of VAT, said: “We are delighted to add these two companies to growing list of operators who have pledged to take part in our Tax Equality Day.  It is still not too late for others to join in and make a difference on this crucial issue.”