HospoDemo to stage third government protest

HospoDemo is to return to Westminster next month to stage a third protest following Friday’s mini budget, which notably left out business rates and VAT.

“It’s clear that the government doesn’t consider supporting hospitality a priority. It’s time to make them realise this has to change, to stop thousands more businesses crumbling,” HospoDemo has posted on Twitter, revealing plans for a third demonstration at Parliament Square in London, which will be held 14 November.

Hospitality operators last week raised concerns that the mini budget neglected small to medium-sized businesses, while introducing measures such as scrapping the cap on bankers' bonuses. Meanwhile, independent restaurants up and down the UK are being forced to close due to unsustainable cost increases.

HospoDemo was founded by marketing professional Rachel Harty in 2020 to urge the government to revise its policies relating to hospitality venues, both in terms of restrictions and industry-specific support. The group organised two protests in 2020, which hundreds of hospitality professionals turned out to support.

Edited 20/10/22: Date of third demonstration updated