Two pubs in Bolton are to cut the price of all food and drink to send a strong message to the Government.

Prices will drop by 7.5 per cent on Thursday September 14 to highlight the benefit of a permanent VAT reduction in the hospitality industry.

Prices at The Spinning Mule in Nelson Square, Bolton and The Robert Shaw in Market Street, Westhoughton will be reduced for one day only to mark Tax Equality Day in the Wetherspoon pubs.

So, for example, a customer spending £10 on food and drink will pay £9.25 on Tax Equality Day.

All food and drink in pubs is subject to 20 per cent VAT.

The Bolton News:

By comparison, Wetherspoon's bosses say supermarkets pay zero VAT on food, and are able to use that saving to sell alcohol to its customers at a discounted price.

The Robert Shaw manager, Cheryll Kean, said: "Customers coming to The Robert Shaw on Thursday September 14 will find the price of their food and drink is lower than normal.

"It is unfair that supermarkets pay zero VAT on food, but pubs pay 20 per cent.

"Pubs have been under fantastic pressure for decades due to the tax disadvantages it has with supermarkets.

The Bolton News: The Robert Shaw

"The tax benefit allows supermarkets to subsidise the selling price of beer.

"It doesn't make sense for the hospitality industry to subsidise supermarkets.

"We urge the Chancellor to create tax equality between pubs and supermarkets."