Hospitality bosses have fired a broadside at the government for taking “zero action” on business rates to help pubs, bars and restaurants — and revealed that more than 6,000 jobs have already been lost this year.
Further job cuts could be on the way if the “unjust” taxation system is not reformed, said Steve Richards, the chief executive of Casual Dining Group, which owns Café Rouge.
Business rates are based on property occupancy. The levy falls heavily on the retail and leisure sectors, which contributed more than £7bn of the total £27.2bn received by the Treasury last year.
