‘Fix business rates’: 170 hospitality CEOs sign open letter to the Chancellor

The leaders of 170 hospitality businesses have signed an open letter to the Chancellor demanding action over business rates in the upcoming Budget.

It comes as UKHospitality warned the industry would have to fork up £914m in additional rates bills should the current relief scheme end on March 31 2025.

The chief executives of businesses such as Fuller’s, Greene King, JD Wetherspoons, Stonegate Group, IHG Hotels and Pizza Pilgrims have backed UKHospitality’s calls for reform, urging the government to lower business rates through a permanent reduction in the multiplier.

September’s CPI figures are used as a multiplier that dictates the annual uplift to business rates in England.

The letter stated: “This Budget is the last chance to prevent bills quadrupling for high streets across the country. We are asking you to grasp this opportunity to deliver your manifesto commitment to fix business rates, and protect businesses.

“We propose that your government introduces a new lower, permanent and universal multiplier for the hospitality sector, to be adopted across all nations of the UK.”

It added: “All hospitality businesses should benefit from that multiplier, removing the cap that has acted as a disincentive to growth as employers decide that opening a second premises is simply not worth the cost.”

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, added: “This 170-strong cohort of business leaders across hospitality shows just how important addressing business rates is at the Budget.

“Inaction will lead to bills quadrupling and more venues shutting their doors for good, which will rob our towns and cities of vital community hubs.”

She added: “If we don’t want to lose out on vital investment, job creation and regeneration of our high streets, then the Chancellor needs to act to introduce a lower level of business rates for hospitality at the Budget.”

The full list of signatories can be found below:

• Kate Nicholls, chief executive, UKHospitality
• Samantha Rieu, hotel general manager, 11 Cadogan Gardens & Chelsea Townhouse
• Paul Weeks MBII, owner, Advocate Group
• Simon Bachelor, vice president operations, Aimbridge Hospitality
• Paul Wigham, CEO, All Our Bars Limited
• James Nye, managing director, Anglian Country Inns
• Laura Pritchard, proprietor, Ann’s Pantry, Anglesey Ice Cream, Flore, Lazydaysanglesey
• Martin Wolstencroft, CEO, Arc Inspirations
• Frantisek Pavlovic, general manager, Arnos Manor Hotel
• Vincent Labeyrie, director, Aspenlane
• Joanne Taylor-Stagg, general manager, Athenaeum Hotel & Residences
• Debbie Priestley, general manager, Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin
• Patrick O’Connell, chief executive, B&B HOTELS UK Ltd
• Chris Alger, general manager, Bailiffscourt Hotel and Spa
• Scott Chillery, CFO, Barworks
• Keith C Knowles OBE CBII, CEO, Beds & Bars Ltd
• Maurice Abboudi, director, Beer and Buns Limited
• Laurence Beere, managing director, Bell & Ross Ltd, T/A The Queensberrry Hotel & Olive Tree Restaurant
• Thomas Greenall, CEO, Bespoke Hotels
• John Todd, owner and manager, Best Western Plus Delmere Hotel
• Alan Morgan, CEO, Big Table Group
• Tom James, managing director, Bill’s
• Robert Wilson, proprietor, Bleeding Heart Restaurants
• Chris Clifford, managing director, Blunsdon House Hotel Ltd
• Steve Hill, managing director, Bone Daddies Ltd
• Nicholas Hemmings, finance director, Bowood Hose & Gardens
• Peter Brend, director, Brend Hotels
• Raphael Herzog, general manager, Bristol Hoteliers Association
• Shereen Ritchie, CEO, Buns From Home
• Alasdair Murdoch, chief executive officer, Burger King UK
• Tim Rumney, CEO, BWH Hotels
• Gerry Ford, founder and group CEO, Caffe Nero
• William Griffiths, general manager, Caradog Hotels
• Matthew di Rienzo, director, Caraffini Restaurant
• Daniel Sangiuseppe, director, Castlewood Hotels
• Ian Edwards, CEO, Celtic Collection
• Nicola Taylor Beal, chief executive, Chardon Hotels Limited
• Philip Turner, CEO, Chestnut Group
• Gavin Taylor, chief executive officer, Clermont Hotel Group
• John McCarthy, managing director, Clevedon Hall Ltd
• Adam Charity, chief operating officer, Coaching Inn Group
• Clare James, director of HR, Corinthia London
• Girish Sanger, managing director, Courthouse Hotels
• Ronald Little, general manager, Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh
• Chris Wayne-Wills, chief executive officer, Crerar Hotel Group Ltd
• David Loewi, CEO & co-founder, D&D London
• Paul Downing, group managing director, Dart Marina Hotel LImited
• Mike Craig, group finance director, De Vere Hotels
• Oliver Harris, deputy general manager, De Vere Tortworth Court
• Julie Tippins, head of risk, DHP Family Ltd
• Julie Gingell, managing director, Docklands Restaurants and Bars
• Mark Gallagher, area general manager UK, Dorsett Hospitality International
• Ahad Vahabzadeh, hotel manager, Doubletree Bristol City Centre
• Daniel Buck, finance director, Eden Hotel Collection Ltd
• Graeme Bateman, managing director, ELITE HOTELS
• Chris Kelly, director, Fest & Revel
• Devin Grosse, CEO, Focus Hotels Management Limited
• Simon Emeny, chief executive, Fuller, Smith and Turner
• Alicja Berthon, general manager, Future Inns Hotel
• Garry Mallen, managing director, G C Mallen & Co
• Serena von der Heyde, partner, Georgian House Hotel
• Alexander Salussolia, managing director, Glendola Leisure Group
• Apal Shah, finance director, Gravetye Manor Hotel
• Harvey Jenkinson, CEO, Gravity
• Nick Mackenzie, CEO, Greene King
• Roxane Marjoram, co-owner, Gusto Pronto
• Paul Ellison, general manager, Hampton by Hilton Blackpool
• Greg Csikos, general manager, Hampton by Hilton Bristol City Centre
• Tim Hart, CEO, Hart Hambleton Ltd and Hambleton Hall Ltd
• James Birch, managing director, Heartstone Inns Ltd
• Chris Guy, chief financial officer, Heartwood collection
• Robert Nobbs, general manager, Heath Court Hotel
• Pontus Carminger, joint managing director, Historic Sussex Hotels Ltd
• Margaret Coffey, general manager, Holiday Inn Bristol Filton
• John Todd, owner and manager, Hotel Columbus
• Jens Hofma, CEO, HWS Ltd
• Georges Moura, hotel manager, Hyatt Regency London - the Churchill
• Joanna Kurowska, managing director - UK & Ireland, IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Richard Hassell, managing director, Ilsington Hotel & Spa
• John Hutson, CEO, JD Wetherspoon
• Tim Healy, owner, Joe Allen Restaurant
• Cliff Nicholls, managing director, JXL Ltd T/A Jump Xtreme & That Fun Place
• Bernard Yeoh, founder & director, Kai Mayfair Ltd
• Meghan Farren, general manager of KFC UK and Ireland, KFC UK and Ireland
• Lorenzo Stella, general manager, La Gaffe
• Andy Townsend, chief executive officer & founding director, Legacy Hotels & Resorts Ltd
• Jayson Perfect, chief operating officer, Liberation Group
• Karen Bosher, non-exec director and CEO, Livelyhood Pubs and Bootlegger Bars
• Govert Feddrick Deketh, general manager, London Marriott Hotel County Hall
• Robert Snaith, general manager, London Sheraton Heathrow
• Charlie Elek, managing director, Lucky Voice
• Jim Davidson, corporate finance manager, Macdonald Hotels Limited
• Steve Welsh, director, Market Taverns Limited
• Anthony Rosser, managing director, Marketglen Ltd
• Karina Jadhav, managing director, Menagerie Restaurant
• Fasika Bekele, head of finance, Methodist International Centre Limited
• Paul Milsom, chairman and managing director, Milsom Hotels and Restaurants
• Phil Urban, CEO, Mitchells & Butlers
• Deborah Jelffs, HR director, MW Eat
• Richard Cressman, owner, Nailcote Hall Hotel
• Andrew Nelson, director, Nelson Hotels
• Peter Marks, chairman, NEOS Hospitality
• William Mitchell, director, North Shore Golf Club (Skegness) Ltd
• David Collinson, director, Oak Taverns Ltd
• Peter Borg-Neal, CEO, Oakman Inns
• Anthony Pender, founder, Our Yummy Collection
• Alistair Telfer, chief executive and club secretary, Oxford and Cambridge Club
• Nicolas Gaillot, COO, Paris Baguette
• Michael Stevenson, general manager, Pentahotel Reading
• Gemma Peel, finance director, Permanently Unique Group
• Emma Brealey, managing director, Petwood Hotel
• Mike Spencer, business development director, Pizza Hut Restaurants
• James Elliot, founder, Pizza Pilgrims
• Peter Austin, owner, Plas Estate
• Eddie Murphy, director, PLS Management Ltd
• Drew Taylor, CFO, Popeyes UK
• Mark Crowther, chairman, Portobello Pub Co, Pub People, Heron & Brearley
• Michael Evered, finance director, Poste Hotels Ltd - the George Hotel Stamford
• John Creighton, managing director, Pottingshed Bar and Gardens Limited
• Danya Salem, general manager, Radisson Blu Bristol
• Stephen Harron, operations director, RBH Hospitality Management
• Richard Lewis, group CEO, RedCat Pub Company Limited
• Noel Byrne, CEO, Review Hotels Ltd
• Ian Fitzgerald, managing director, Rick Stein Group
• Gavin Adair, CEO, Rosa’s Thai
• James Shail, MD, Rothay Manor Boutique Hotel and Restaurant
• Annette Prandzioch, director general, Royal Over-Seas League
• Rick Stein, chef and restauranteur, Seafood Trading Ltd
• Neil Kedward, chief executive, Seren
• Jo Watson, director, Sidmouth Hotels Ltd
• Heather Hamilton, general manager, Sloane Square Hotel Ltd
• Sheila Cadd, proprietor, Somerville House Bed and Breakfast
• Tomas Maunier, managing director, Southern Wind Group Ltd
• Kevin Georgel, chief executive, St Austell Brewery
• Araceli Rius Perez, commercial director UK, St James’ Court, A Taj Hotel & Taj 51 Buckingham Gate, Suites and Residences
• Dan McLennan, managing director, Stange & Co. Pub Company
• David McDowall, CEO, Stonegate Group
• Simon Potts, CEO, the Alchemist
• David Balden, club secretary and CEO, the Caledonian Club
• Marcel Khan, CEO, the Fulham Shore
• Jon Fletcher, proprietor, the Grange at Oborne
• Jonathan Greatorex, managing director, the Hand At Llanarmon Ltd
• Stefan Soennichsen, managing director, the Langham, London
• Caroline Gregory, director, the Lovat Loch Ness Limited
• Naomi Heaton, CEO, the Other House Residents Club
• Rob Pitcher, CEO, the Revel Collective
• Tony Hendy, head of retail, the Seafood Restaurant Ltd
• Tim Wilson, owner and director, the Ship Ltd
• Andrew McKenzie, managing director, the Vineyard Group
• Celia Gaze, founder and chief executive, the Wellbeing Farm
• Philip Thorley, MD, Thorley Taverns
• Paul Gilchrist, CEO, Thunderbird Fried Chicken
• Tim Hassell, estates director, Thurlestone Estates Ltd
• Neil Sebba, managing director, Tossed
• Fred Hitchcock, managing director, Town & Country Collective
• Hari Fell, owner, Tudor Farmhouse Hotel
• Nathan Midgley, managing director, Tynedale Hotel Limited
• Ian Grundy, CEO, Urban Village Pub Company
• Gerry Carroll, CEO, Valiant Pub Company Limited
• Derek Lister, group financial controller, Valor Hospitality
• Henry Birts, CEO, Wasabi
• Caroline Ottoy, managing director, WatchHouse
• Nigel Saunders, group financial director, Webb Hotel Group Ltd
• Brian Keeley Whiting, manging director, WH Pubs Ltd
• Norman Edwards, director, Wheelers Old Kings Arms Hotel Pembroke
• Robert Walton MBE, chairman, WorldYYY
• Shaun Whitehouse, director, WT Hotels Ltd
• Louisa Watson, marketing director & sustainability lead, Wyboston Lakes Resort
• Jeremy Pick, managing director, Yew Lodge Limited
• Simon Dodd, CEO, Young’s Pubs