Hospitality Ulster will launch the VATsTheProblem campaign in Northern Ireland on Wednesday 4 November, bringing together leading voices from the hospitality industry to highlight the pressure that taxation is placing on businesses across the sector.
The event, hosted by broadcaster Lynette Fay at the Europa Hotel in Belfast, will feature Sacha Lord, hospitality entrepreneur and former night-time economy adviser to then-Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham; Howard Hastings, Chairman of Hastings Hotels; Michael Deane, renowned chef and restaurateur; and Ciara Hurl, Crosskeys Inn and Ulster University PhD researcher into the regenerative tourism of the Irish pub.
The launch comes as part of a UK-wide campaign for a reduction in VAT for hospitality businesses, arguing that the current 20% rate places local operators at a competitive disadvantage and limits their ability to invest, retain staff, and sustain their businesses.
The strength of feeling among Northern Ireland businesses is clear. In Hospitality Ulster’s latest membership survey, 86% of respondents cited a VAT reduction as the most beneficial form of government support for their business when asked what measures would make the greatest difference.
The call comes amid mounting pressure on operators from rising employment costs, business rates, energy bills, and other overheads. Hospitality Ulster’s evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has also highlighted the growing competitive gap with the Republic of Ireland, where VAT on food service and catering fell to 9% on 1 July 2026, compared with 20% in Northern Ireland.
Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster, said:
“Hospitality businesses across Northern Ireland are under immense pressure, and our members have been clear about what would make the biggest difference. When 86% identify a VAT reduction as the most beneficial support Government could provide, that is a message that cannot be ignored.
“Hospitality is a major employer and an essential part of our towns, cities, and communities. These businesses provide jobs, support local supply chains, attract visitors, and contribute significantly to our economy. Yet operators are being asked to absorb rising costs while competing with businesses across the border that benefit from a substantially lower rate of VAT on food and catering.
“VAT reform is not about asking for a handout. It is about giving Northern Ireland’s hospitality businesses a fairer chance to compete, protect jobs, invest in their premises, and remain viable for the long term.
“The VATsTheProblem campaign gives us an opportunity to bring these issues to the forefront and make the case for change. We look forward to welcoming Sacha Lord to Belfast so we can hear from one of the UK’s foremost hospitality experts, and so that Sacha can hear the stories on the ground in Northern Ireland from experienced operators such as Howard Hastings and Michael Deane.”
The event will bring together representatives from across Northern Ireland’s hospitality industry to discuss the challenges facing the sector and the need for a more sustainable operating environment.
Hospitality Ulster represents businesses across the sector, including pubs, hotels, restaurants, cafés, bars, and entertainment venues. With 99% of its members locally owned independent businesses, the association is calling for a taxation framework that supports employment, investment, and the long-term future of hospitality throughout Northern Ireland.