Chef says state of hospitality sector 'ridiculous'

Chef Glynn Purnell described the current state of the UK's hospitality sector as "ridiculous" as he called on the government to help struggling businesses.

The Michelin Star-winning restaurateur recently announced The Mount by Glynn Purnell pub, in Henley in Arden, Warwickshire, would close on 15 March.

The owners of the venue, along with Purnell, put the closure down to escalating costs over recent years, which they said made the business "no longer viable".

The government said it was "backing Britain's pubs" by increasing the hospitality support fund to £10m alongside other initiatives.

Speaking to BBC Radio WM, Purnell, from Birmingham, said it had been a "really, really tough" time for hospitality in general.

"At the minute, it's ridiculous. Nobody is making any money," he added.

"Basically, we're running to survive."

He highlighted the 20% rate of VAT as well as rising wage costs and national insurance contributions, accusing the government of "attacking" the industry.

While he agreed with making sure workers were paid a fair wage, Purnell said ministers needed to adjust things like VAT to "give businesses breathing space".

"A pub is the heartbeat of a community and when people stop using it… it will be gone and it will never come back," he added.

The Mount's closure will come less than two years after the chef's Michelin-starred restaurant, Purnell's in Birmingham, shut in October 2024.

The chef said he would now focus his time on his other ventures - Trillium and Plates by Purnell's in Birmingham and The Wood Norton in Evesham, Worcestershire.

Asked if he would have started out in the industry under the current economic conditions, he said "probably not".

"It's business suicide if you want to have a restaurant now," Purnell said.

"If someone like me has to look at the figures and go 'right this can't be done', then who else is going to take that risk? It beggar's belief."

A Treasury spokesperson said it was "backing Britain's pubs" by cutting new business rates bills by 15%, extending World Cup opening hours and increasing the hospitality support fund to £10m.

"Later this year, we'll build on our Pride in Place programme with the government's new High Streets strategy to revitalise our town centres," they added.

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