'Business has been so tough': Shropshire pub couple take appeal for changes to Parliament

The owners of Ludlow's Queens Pub, Tim and Jane Vaughan, were nominated by South Shropshire MP Stuart Anderson to attend a business roundtable in the House of Commons, where they shared valuable insights about challenges facing rural businesses like theirs.

Tim and Jane attended the local business roundtable with the Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Andrew Griffith MP. 

The couple were then given a tour of the Houses of Parliament on their trip to London.

The Queens was built around 1841 and is named after Queen Victoria. Tim and Jane have been at The Queens since December 1999, having lovingly renovated the pub and transformed it into a family run freehold specialising in real ales and homemade, traditional dishes.

Under the new government, the Queens is now being forced to pay an extra £7,990 in taxes from April due to hikes unveiled by the Chancellor. 

At the autumn budget, she announced £40 billion of tax increases - including a £25 billion hike on employer's National Insurance Contributions (NICs). 

The Chancellor also reduced the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Relief Scheme from 75 per cent to 40 per cent - withdrawing support worth some £925 million. 

The changes mean that pubs in Shropshire will have to pay, on average, an extra £3,640 more in business rates - as the charge has risen to £6,240. Shropshire's 410 pubs will also have to pay at least £800 extra per worker due to higher NICs. Mr Anderson has said the Government's tax hikes on pubs will force landlords to raise prices or shut their doors for good.

Mr Anderson launched his campaign to support the local hospitality sector at the Queens in December, and 25 businesses joined together to campaign for a permanent reduction in the rate of VAT on food and hot beverages sold in pubs.

Since then, more than 100 businesses across South Shropshire have signed the MP's petition, who has said there is still time for more businesses to sign before he submits the petition ahead of the Chancellor's Spring Statement, which is expected to be delivered on March 26. 

Tim and Jane told the MP: "We have been at the Queens for 25 years and never in all those years has business been so tough." 

Mr Anderson said he hopes that the roundtable, which was organised by the Conservative Rural Forum (CRF), will ensure their concerns are heard at the highest levels.

He said: "Pubs like The Queens in Ludlow play a vital role in South Shropshire, supporting hundreds of jobs in the rural economy. Yet, they are deeply concerned about their prospects under this new government following tax hikes which will cost them thousands of pounds.  

"So, I was delighted to nominate Tim and Jane Vaughan to attend this roundtable with Shadow Business Secretary, Andrew Griffith MP. Their valuable insights will help us to be a strong and effective opposition, holding the Government to account on its plans to support this valued sector."

Tim and Jane Vaughan added: "We are grateful of the opportunity to discuss the devastating effect of the recent budget on our business. We hope we can help to highlight the plight of rural hospitality businesses at this challenging time."