Chapel Down CEO Urges Wider Business Rates Cuts for UK Hospitality
The head of a prominent English winery calls for extending recent reductions to hotels to foster growth in the sparkling wine sector.
James Pennefather, chief executive of the Chapel Down winery in Kent, has urged the UK government to expand business rates reductions beyond pubs to include hotels. While welcoming a 20% cut for pubs, Pennefather stated that extending similar relief to hotels could further stimulate growth in Britain's burgeoning wine industry.
"Hotels have been less impacted by these measures, so we’d encourage the Government to go further on this," Pennefather said. He believes wider rate cuts would "hugely support our industry" and help capitalize on favorable climate conditions that have aided grape growing in recent years. The Chapel Down executive noted that while existing measures have been beneficial, further extensions are needed.
His comments align with broader calls from the UK's retail and hospitality sectors, which are advocating for an extension of business rate reductions across the entire sector. These businesses aim to drive economic growth and revitalize high streets through wider government support.