Rick Stein on the Challenges Facing Hospitality
The chef discusses his views with Graeme Green on Masterchef, criticism of his 'Padstein' venture, and the upcoming Christmas season.
Childhood Memories
Among the Christmas gifts Rick Stein cherished as a child, one stood out. “One year, I was given a push-pedal car,” he recalls. “I was very small, living in the Cotswolds. You sat in the car, pushed the two pedals, and went round and round the sitting room. I loved it.” Those were simpler, joyful times.
Hope for Industry Support
Now, seven decades later, Stein is wishing for a more practical gift from Keir Starmer instead of Santa. “A moratorium on VAT would be good,” he says, referring to the support he believes the struggling hospitality sector needs.
Economic Struggles in Hospitality
He points out the loss of 80,000 jobs in hospitality this year and the difficult situation in his industry sector. “Things aren’t going well in our particular part of the industry,” he admits.
“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.”
Stein explains that businesses are reluctant to hire unless absolutely necessary due to rising taxes. He acknowledges the country’s difficult state but criticizes targeting sectors like hospitality that are ill-equipped to absorb these pressures.
“Hospitality is always taken as slightly second-rate way of the national wealth, but tourism and hospitality are so important.”
Author's Summary
Rick Stein highlights the critical strain on hospitality from rising taxes and job losses, calling for government relief to support this vital but undervalued sector.