Cheers and fears

Hospitality bosses give verdict on plan to cut red tape

- By ADAM MAIDMENT

THE government last week announced plans to introduce a series of new reforms which could remove ‘clunky, outdated’ rules and restrictions that would help slash the red tape on the UK’s hospitality industry.

The reforms include plans to overhaul the planning and licensing rules that would make it quicker for new cafes, bars and music venues to open in disused shop locations, as well as ‘fast-tracking’ permissions for ‘hospitality zones’ that will encourage outdoor drinking and dining. It will also make it easier for businesses to apply for extended opening hours.

Across Greater Manchester, the owners of pubs, bars, cafes, hotels and restaurants have reacted to the plans with a mixture of trepidation and positivity on what it could lead to.

Rob Norbury, who runs the Farrars Arms pub in Oldham and Muse in Uppermill, says he fears the reforms are catered more towards new rather than existing businesses and says it’s important not to overlook how they also exclude any relief when it comes to ongoing increases in business rates and national insurance.

“T think in terms of cutting the red tape, and making it a little easier for places to extend their licences, that all sounds great but most people are looking for actual financial support right now,’ Rob tells the M.E.N.

“We need assistance with the hikes on business rates and national insurance. Costs keep going up and our margins keep getting tighter, but if we increase our prices then people just won't come out. Our margins have dropped by around 50 per cent this year.

“A lot of the reforms seem to be designed to help sign new people up rather than those who already have sites and are doing the hard work already?”

It’s something that Neil Burke, who runs The Black Friar in Salford, agrees on. “The best and quickest way to support the hospitality industry would be cash in the bank and that would be through reducing VAT” he explains.