Chef Simon Rogan Warns Tourist Tax Could Halt UK Restaurant Expansion - News and Statistics - Chefs

Sep 17, 2026

A prominent British chef has cautioned that a new tourist tax proposed by Andy Burnham could lead him to abandon plans to expand his restaurant business within the United Kingdom, according to The Telegraph. Simon Rogan, whose L’Enclume restaurant in the Lake District holds three Michelin stars, indicated that further UK expansion is not currently a workable proposition following the Government’s move to grant local authorities the power to levy charges on overnight stays.

Rogan’s position adds to mounting opposition from hoteliers, restaurateurs and hospitality organizations against what they describe as a tax burden on businesses. More than 800 companies and industry figures, including Rogan, signed an open letter earlier this week urging a reduction in hospitality VAT.

Rogan, whose Cartmel establishment in Cumbria includes 16 bedrooms, said the tourist tax compounds a series of rising costs confronting hospitality businesses, including increases in National Insurance contributions, the minimum wage and energy bills.

The Telegraph has urged the Government to support the sector through its Save Our Pubs campaign.

Rogan described the cumulative pressure as severe, saying that just when conditions seemed unable to worsen, the tourist tax arrived as another charge added to customers’ bills. He characterized the situation as one burden following another.

UKHospitality, the industry trade body, has advocated cutting VAT from 20 percent to 10 percent, a rate that Burnham has previously supported. Critics of the tourist levy have highlighted the higher VAT burden borne by British hospitality compared with many European countries where similar visitor taxes apply.

The industry group warned that a 5 percent levy could eliminate 33,000 jobs and reduce the economy by 2.2 billion pounds, after ministers announced that mayors and other authorities could introduce the tax without a national cap.

The tax threatens to add substantially to the cost of dining at some of Britain’s finest restaurants, many of which offer overnight accommodation. Eight UK Michelin-star restaurants were forced to close last year amid rising costs, and dozens more have shut since the pandemic.

Rogan, whose restaurant business holds a total of nine Michelin stars, said margin pressure has led him to look overseas for expansion while diversifying into takeaway food and catering at sporting events. He stated that there is no appetite for long-term investment in the UK under current conditions and that the group is seeking to invest abroad.

His group is also providing mass catering at stadiums worldwide, a business Rogan said he would not previously have considered, while strengthening its takeaway operation as the cost of eating out rises.

1. INTRODUCTION

Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
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