Rick Stein on the Challenges Facing the Hospitality Industry
The renowned chef Rick Stein shared his thoughts with Graeme Green about his experiences on Masterchef, the criticism of his 'Padstein' project, and hopes for improvements in the hospitality sector this Christmas.
Childhood Memories
Reflecting on his childhood, Stein recalls one favorite Christmas gift. “One year, I was given a push-pedal car,” he says. “I was still tiny, and we were living in the Cotswolds. You sat in the car and pushed the two pedals, and went round and round the sitting room in it. I loved it.” Those simpler times stand in contrast to today’s challenges.
Current Industry Concerns
Now in his seventies, Stein hopes for practical support from political leaders rather than festive cheer. He expresses a wish for a VAT moratorium to aid the struggling hospitality business.
“80,000 jobs have been lost in hospitality this year. Things aren’t going well in our particular part of the industry.”
He tries to maintain a balanced view but criticizes recent government tax policies:
“I know stuff has to be paid for. What the government is trying to do, I guess, is to increase the tax situation by growth, but doing so by putting National Insurance up just stopped growth. If you’re faced with ever-increasing taxes, you’re going to cut back on labour wherever you can. You’re certainly not going to hire people unless you absolutely need to.”
Stein acknowledges the country's difficulties but calls it a mistake to penalize sectors unable to withstand such burdens:
“It seems to me a complete ‘home goal’ to target parts of the economy that are not well-equipped to deal with it.”
Support for Hospitality
- Stein emphasizes the importance of targeted relief for hospitality.
- He stresses the negative impact of rising taxes on employment decisions within the sector.
- His appeal is grounded in the significant job losses suffered in the industry over the year.
Author’s summary: Rick Stein highlights severe challenges in hospitality, urging tax relief to prevent further job losses and support industry recovery.