82p in Every Quid - hospo crowned the UK's most-taxed trade

Sit down before you read this one. Hospitality businesses pay the equivalent of 82p in business taxes for every £1 of pre-tax profit, according to new analysis from UKHospitality and the British Retail Consortium, reported by The Morning Advertiser.

The study lined up 11 big sectors of the economy and hospo came out on top of the table nobody wants to win. Retail wasn't far behind on 72p, the average across all 11 sectors was 50p, and banking got off with 40.5p. Between them, shops and hospitality coughed up £62bn in 2025/26 through business rates, employer national insurance, VAT and the rest.

UKHospitality boss Allen Simpson called the figures staggering and said it's no wonder the sector's ability to hire and invest has taken a battering. The asks ahead of the 28 October Budget are bigger business rates relief and extra help for sites stung by the 2026 revaluation.

So what for hospo people? When the owner says there's no money for a pay rise, this is a big chunk of where it's going. Budget day is three and a half weeks away, so expect the lobbying to get louder. If your venue's signing petitions, put your name on them too.