Hospitality businesses back remain in letter to The Times

Food, drink and hospitality chiefs have added their names to a letter to The Times backing Britain remaining in the EU.

Ranging from Whitbread CEO Alison Brittain to Paul Walsh, chairman of Compass Group, each have added their name to a list of signatories backing the remain campaign in the EU referendum tomorrow (23 June 2016).

The letter reads:

“Even those that want Britain to leave say that, in the short term, Brexit would lead to economic uncertainty and would put jobs at risk. Smaller businesses and the people they employ are particularly vulnerable to any economic shock that could follow a vote to leave.

“Britain leaving the EU would mean uncertainty for our firms, less trade with Europe and fewer jobs. Britain remaining in the EU would mean the opposite: more certainty, more trade and more jobs. EU membership is good for business and good for British jobs. That’s why, on 23 June, we back Britain remaining in the EU.”

The signatories included:

Andy Wood, CEO, Adnams
Lord Rana MBE, managing director, Andras House
Marcus Whittington, director, Bath Boutique Stays
Keith Knowles, chief executive officer, Beds and Bars
Simon Litherland*, CEO, Britvic
Daniel Sangiuseppe, director, Castlewood Hotels
Clive Watson, chairman, City Pub Company
Paul Walsh*, chairman, Compass Group
Rumi Verjee, founder, Domino’s Pizza UK
Tony Matharu*, managing director, Grange Hotels
Rooney Anand, CEO, Greene King
Simon Allison, chairman and CEO, Hoftel
Jalal Al-Yawer, CEO, Hotel Xanadu
Ian Coll, founder and managing director, Mamuska restaurants
Marianne Lumb, head chef and owner, Marianne restaurant
Karl Jones , managing director, Moshimo
Tamara Lohan MBE, founder and CTO, Mr & Mrs Smith
Stephanie Kingsland, director, Pierreponts Café
Matt Harris, owner, Planet of the Grapes
Maura Collyer, owner, the Racehorse pub
Louise Oldfield, co-owner, the Reading Rooms
Ibrahim Dogus, managing director, Rimad
Samantha Thompson, managing director, the Ripon Spa hotel
Baroness Rogers MBE, owner, the River Café
Bronte Aurell, founding director, Scandinavian Kitchen
Jonas Aurell, founding director, Scandinavian Kitchen
Olivia Grant, managing director, St Clements
Ryan James, owner, Two Fat Ladies
Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever
Alison Brittain*, CEO, Whitbread
Simon Woodroffe OBE, founder, YO! Sushi and YOTEL
Anthony Pender, director, Yummy Pubs
Richard Hall, chairman, Zenith International
\* Denotes signing in a personal capacity

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