Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt banned from Dorset pub

The chair of the Wonky Table group sent the orders after the PM and Chancellor's spring budget failed to have any tax cuts for his industry. 

Andy has been campaigning for years to ask the government to lower VAT to 10 per cent following growth in wages, supply costs rising and utility costs “doubling”. 

He said he ran a “well-orchestrated, good, solid campaign” which reached nearly 25,000 signatures from restaurateurs, publicans, hoteliers and everybody else in the hospitality sector.

Andy Lennox (Image: UGC) 

“I’m not really campaigning anymore,” he told the Echo.

“It's difficult because ultimately we ran a really solid campaign: our MPs down here were very supportive, Conor and Tobias, as are the wider MPs. 

“But that’s the problem: we’ve got the support, it’s just nothing is happening, and it’s going to be interesting to see what you see now. I think you’ll see quite a lot of closures.” 

He added: “There are lots of key people in the industry saying the same thing [about what the hospitality sector needs], but it wasn’t listened to at all. 

“Ultimately, as people don’t realise how big hospitality is in the country, with it struggling you will see that there is a reason why we’ve dipped into recession.

“There is a reason why inflation will now drive forward. They think inflation won’t drive forward, but it will because ultimately you’re going to see price increases. 

“It’s just a shame. It was the right lever to pull, it would’ve been a lever that basically in five or ten years' time you would see massive benefit from it, but ultimately, they’re looking at an election they will lose.” 

The Old Thatch (Image: The Old Thatch)

Andy, who owns The Old Thatch pub in Wimborne, said he will now be refocusing his efforts on running his own businesses and local issues – he is also the chair of the Destination Management Board. 

He added: “I want to concentrate on my own businesses... I need to spend some more time on my own stuff rather than basically fighting everyone else's stuff.  

“Ultimately, I'm a volunteer with the VAT campaign. But I'm also the chair of DMB and the new town centre working partnership.” 

This week’s budget announcement did come with an alcohol duty freeze until February 2023, which Mr Hunt said has the aim of “backing the great British pub”. 

The Chancellor said he had listened to representations from MPs about the tax, adding: “So today I have decided to extend the alcohol duty freeze until February 2025.  

“This benefits 38,000 pubs all across the UK – and on top of the £13,000 saving a typical pub will get from the 75 per cent business rates discount I announced in the autumn. 

“We value our hospitality industry and we are backing the great British pub.”