Supporting a Fairer Future for Hotels, Pubs and Hospitality

The hospitality industry is one of the UK's largest employers and a vital part of local communities. Hotels, pubs, restaurants, cafés and visitor attractions create jobs, support local suppliers, attract tourism and contribute billions to the economy every year.

Yet despite its importance, the sector continues to face significant financial pressure. Rising energy costs, increased wage bills, higher business rates and inflation have all added to the burden. At the heart of these challenges is one issue that many hospitality businesses believe is preventing growth and investment: VAT.

Why VAT Matters

Hospitality businesses in the UK currently pay VAT at 20% on accommodation, food and many services. This is among the highest rates applied to tourism and hospitality in Europe.

Many competing destinations benefit from reduced hospitality VAT rates, allowing businesses to offer better value to customers, invest in their facilities, and create more employment opportunities. UK businesses, however, must absorb increasing costs while remaining competitive in a challenging market.

The Impact on Hotels

For hotels, the current VAT rate affects every aspect of the business:

• Higher room rates for guests.
• Reduced competitiveness against international destinations.
• Less capacity to invest in improvements and sustainability initiatives.
• Increased pressure on staffing levels and recruitment.
• Lower profitability despite rising operating costs.

A reduction in VAT would help hotels reinvest in their properties, improve guest experiences, create jobs and strengthen local economies.

The Impact on Pubs

Pubs are often the heart of their communities, but many continue to struggle with rising costs and shrinking margins.

The current VAT burden contributes to:

• Higher prices for customers.
• Reduced investment in premises and facilities.
• Challenges in maintaining employment levels.
• Increased pressure on independent and family-owned businesses.
• Risk of closures that affect local communities and high streets.

A lower VAT rate would provide much-needed support, helping pubs remain sustainable, competitive and accessible.

What the Campaign Is Calling For

The "VAT Is The Problem" campaign is urging policymakers to recognise the unique contribution of hospitality and tourism by introducing a reduced VAT rate for the sector.

Supporters believe this would:

• Encourage growth and investment.
• Create and protect jobs.
• Boost tourism and visitor spending.
• Strengthen local communities.
• Help businesses remain competitive with international markets.
• Generate wider economic benefits across the UK.

Why We Support the Campaign

As a hospitality business, we see first-hand the challenges facing hotels, pubs and the wider industry. We believe that a fairer VAT rate would allow businesses to invest, grow and continue delivering the experiences that visitors and local communities value.

Hospitality is more than an industry - it is a cornerstone of the UK's economy and social fabric. We are proud to support the VAT Is The Problem campaign and its call for meaningful change.

Get Involved

You can support the campaign by:

• Learning more about the challenges facing hospitality.
• Sharing information with friends, family and colleagues.
• Contacting your local MP to express your support.
• Supporting local hotels, pubs and hospitality businesses.

Together, we can help secure a stronger future for hospitality!!!

If you've ever dreamed of stepping into a place where history, warmth, and breathtaking scenery all come together under one roof, then welcome‚ you've just found it. We're a 17th-century coaching inn sitting right at the top of Grassington's famous cobbled village square, and this is our very first blog post. We hope it's the start of something brilliant.

A Little Bit About Us

Grassington is one of those rare Yorkshire Dales villages that seems to exist outside of time. Cobbled streets, stone-built cottages, fresh Dales air, and a community that genuinely makes you feel welcome the moment you arrive. Right at its heart, you'll find us, the Black Horse.

We've been welcoming guests, walkers, locals, and wanderers for centuries. Our building creaks with character: not a level floor or straight wall in sight, low ceilings that have seen generations of good conversation, and a real log fire that on a chilly Dales evening feels like the best thing in the world. If you're a fan of the TV series "All Creatures Great and Small", you'll recognise Grassington immediately‚ it doubles as the fictional town of Darrowby, and our doorstep puts you right in the middle of it all.

What We Offer

We have 15 comfortable en-suite bedrooms‚ doubles, twins, kings, and our beloved premium rooms, which looks out over the village square and into the open Dales beyond. Whether you're here for a romantic break, a walking holiday, or just a proper night away from the ordinary, we'll make sure you sleep well.

Our bar serves a fine range of cask-conditioned Yorkshire ales alongside beers, lagers, and wines from around the world‚ all at prices that won't make you wince. Our restaurant uses fresh, locally sourced produce to create a menu that travels from classic British pub dishes to something a little more adventurous. We cater for vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free diets, so no one gets left out.

The Black Horse is proudly dog-friendly. Your four-legged companion is as welcome here as you are‚ in the bar and in a dedicated section of the restaurant.

We run regular events including our popular Wednesday Quiz Night, Friday Night Live music, and Sunday Acoustic sessions showcasing some of the best local artists in the Dales. Staying in has never sounded so good.

Why Grassington? Why Now?

Grassington sits in Wharfedale, one of the most spectacular valleys in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It's the kind of place that draws people back year after year. Within easy reach you'll find:

- Stump Cross Caverns‚ an extraordinary underground cave system
- Kilnsey Crag and Kilnsey Park‚ dramatic limestone cliffs and trout fishing
- Bolton Abbey‚ the beautiful ruins of a 12th-century priory
- Skipton‚ the Gateway to the Dales, with a castle, market, and canal
- Miles of walking and cycling routes‚ from gentle riverside strolls to serious fell walks

Whether you're visiting for the Grassington Festival in June, the magical Dickensian Festival in December, or simply because you want wide skies and good beer on a random Tuesday — you're very welcome here.

This Is Just the Beginning

This blog is something we're genuinely excited about. Over the coming months, we'll be sharing walking routes, straight from our door, seasonal menu updates, local event guides, behind-the-scenes stories from the inn, and honest recommendations for making the most of the Yorkshire Dales. We'll keep it honest, local, and useful‚ no boring bits, just the good stuff.

If you'd like to follow along, bookmark this page or find us on social media. And if you haven't visited yet, we'd love to change that.

Come and find us at 4 Garrs Lane, Grassington, BD23 5AT. There's a pint with your name on it.