Gordon Ramsay says tax changes will make restaurants ‘lambs to the slaughter’

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay warns that upcoming tax changes will devastate the UK restaurant industry, potentially leading to widespread closures. He criticizes the government's new budget measures, claiming they will exacerbate existing challenges like rising business rates, energy costs, and staffing expenses. Ramsay argues that the hospitality sector is still recovering from the pandemic and is being "suffocated" by these financial pressures. UKHospitality forecasts that without government assistance, nearly a thousand restaurants, along with hundreds of hotels and pubs, could close this year due to increased rates bills. While the government has offered some support, Ramsay believes the changes are happening too rapidly and calls for a slower, more consultative approach.