Hampshire pub business "losing the appetite" for growth as they say VAT remains too high
It comes a week on from the budget
A Hampshire pub business is telling us they're "losing the appetite" for growth - after the budget hit hard.
It comes a week on from the budget where business rates were cut and a rise in minimum wage for younger workers was seen - but pubs say they need more focus on VAT.
Stuart Downie's Director of The Cricketers Inn and The Brewery Bar in Curdridge and Botley.
He said: "Our biggest thing is trying to grow.
"We bought The Brewery Bar about three years ago and month on month, it's been tough really, scrambling the money together for VAT.
"We've had a fabulous summer this year and the company's making profit at last, but you know, I've got a big VAT bill coming end of this week, and I'm still scratching around to find it.
"It's felt like that for the last few years really."
Mr Downie told us they had ambitions to grow with a farm and coffee shop and wine retail, which he says he hopes would help to create more jobs in the area.
He told us, though, that this is a struggle with the current VAT levels.
Mr Downie added: "If we could get the VAT to 10% then I think it would definitely have encouragement to grow, really."
We've reached out to HM Treasury for a response.