Chef Tommy Banks: ‘Britain doesn’t need any more restaurants’ claim confirmed our fears

Chef Tommy Banks has hit back at the government adviser who claimed that Britain “doesn’t need any more restaurants” in an interview last week.

In a lengthy post on Instagram, the chef patron of Tommy Banks Group and co-founder of Jeopardy Hospitality said he was “genuinely shocked and frankly angry” for his sector to have been blindsided in this way.

He wrote: “While it may not surprise many in hospitality, hearing it said so bluntly felt like confirmation of something many of us already fear: that our sector is not fully understood, valued, or prioritised.

“What this view overlooks is the role hospitality plays — not just economically, but culturally and socially. Restaurants, pubs, cafés and hotels are not simply commercial units. They are the beating heart of communities.

“Who wants to live in a country made up only of chains and multinational corporations? Independent businesses give Britain its character. They are the lifeblood of our towns and villages — and a huge part of what makes this country special.”

Banks reiterated hospitality is one of the largest employers of young people in the UK, often providing first jobs, and said it was “baffling” the government could want fewer restaurants when it agreed youth unemployment is a serious concern.

“If we are serious about tackling youth unemployment, we should be investing in hospitality — not squeezing it. Lowering VAT for hospitality — in line with much of Europe — would stimulate growth, create jobs, support small businesses and strengthen our high streets,” he added.

His comments come after Rachel Reeves delivered her Spring Statement this week, which was criticised by the industry for feeling “disconnected from reality”.

James Robson, chairman at Fallow, also pointed out the government had missed an opportunity “to send a positive message in the Spring Statement following the rather ill advised ‘we don’t want any more restaurants’ narrative”.

From 1 April, government will replace the existing retail, hospitality and leisure relief with two lower business rates multipliers for properties with rateable values below £500,000, while National Living Wage rates will also increase to £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over and to £10.85 for 18-20 year olds.