Landlord offers discount for cash payments as card charges soar

A pub landlord has said bank charges on card payments have got so high, he could employ another member of staff for the same amount.

As a result, Alan Davies, who runs The Trumpet Inn near Ledbury and The Moon at Mordiford, said he was offering customers a 5% discount if they paid in cash.

He said: "The business pays on every transaction. I don't really see much of what the banks are actually doing for us at the moment, because as far as I can see they're just taking money off us.

"I'm missing it to be honest. Since Covid there is no cash around, nobody's using it - everybody's gone to card, which means we're being charged quite heavily for it."

Davies said the cost of the transactions meant him losing about £5 for every £50 made.

Customers seem to be supporting the idea, with staff saying cash purchases are up from 5% of all transactions to about 50%.

"Any discount in the current situation is a good idea," said Dave Holloway, a regular at The Trumpet.

"It's 30 pence a pint cheaper isn't it? Anything you can save, is worth saving. It brings people into the pub."

Staff member Tash Holloway said the move had encouraged customers into the pub and she herself had started using cash more in her own life.

Her colleague, Bella Grinnell added: "I think it's a brilliant idea that we're handling cash more.

"I think we spend so much time on screens every day, I think to then use another screen to be taking card payments... it takes you out of reality."

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