Brighton hotel owner forced to drop staff and work their jobs as costs soar
Ashraf, who runs the Ambassador in Kemptown, says he's being impacted by the prices of things like electricity, gas, cleaning and even linen
A Brighton hotel owner's telling us he's had to let staff go because of soaring costs.
Ashraf, who runs the Ambassador in Kemptown, says prices of things like electricity, gas, cleaning and even linen, as well as increases to minimum wage, mean he's having to take on jobs himself.
"We are selling a room for forty, fifty pounds, what is left over?" he told Greatest Hits Radio as he manned the reception desk.
He is now worried that plans for a tourist tax could drive customers away when he needs them most.
It could add £40 to the average 7-day stay in the city.
"If I don't have customers, what do I do?" He asked.
If brought in, the tax likely wouldn't come into place until a new Brighton and Sussex Strategic Authority is created - and a mayor is elected.
The government says it would help reinvest money where it's needed most.
Councillor Jacob Taylor, the deputy leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said it will give local authorities the "power to work out what's right for their area: "The question we'll have to ask ourselves is, it worth having a small overnight visitor levy, a small amount of money for hotel stays, that would then mean that the money could be used in the region to improve things for residents.
"The problem we've got at the moment is that councils generally are struggling to meet some of the basic services in their area. And so this might be a good idea.
"Ultimately, it'll be for the mayoral authority to decide what's best for Sussex and Brighton."