14/06/2026
VAT’s The Problem!
If you’ve ever grabbed a coffee from us, attended one of our events, met friends here, worked from one of our tables, or simply enjoyed having an independent space on your local high street, we’d love you to take 30 seconds to take a read and support this campaign to save us and many other local and independent hospitality businesses!
The reality is, hospitality businesses across the UK are facing rising costs and are being squeezed from every angle, while still paying 20% VAT - one of the highest hospitality VAT rates in Europe.
The campaign, led by is calling for hospitality VAT to be reduced to 10%, helping independent cafés, pubs, bars and restaurants continue to invest in their teams, communities and local high streets and simply to keep our doors open.
Places like The Front Room aren’t just somewhere to grab a coffee. They’re where friendships are made, celebrations happen, local artists perform, small businesses collaborate, and communities connect.
If you’ve ever wondered why your coffee costs what it does, here’s a little insight from behind the scenes. We’re paying for cups, lids, takeaway boxes, ingredients, energy bills, water, insurance, business rates, rent, card machine fees, cleaning products, repairs, staff wages, pensions, National Insurance contributions and so much more that most customers never see.
If The Front Room has ever been part of your day we’d be incredibly grateful if you’d take a moment to sign the petition, not just for us, but for all the other hospitality businesses out there.
The link in our bio to sign!
Because independent businesses make our high streets worth visiting. 🤎
