After a busy Christmas period, hospitality remains quiet in Waterford this January.
That's according to Jim Flash Gordon, owner of Revolution and Oscars bars in Waterford City. Speaking to WLR News, Jim says it is the quietest January he has experienced in years.
"January, in my opinion, has been the worst since 2008. We've had a brilliant December and a terrible January.
"The weather warnings are orange and yellow every other day. The weather wasn't too bad, except for one day. Talking to publicans, restaurateurs, and retailers, I think we had a really good Christmas, despite the economic outlook and cost of doing business.
"We're thankful for it because we as business owners are always thinking ahead to the future".
According to its "Programme for Government," the next coalition government has decided to restore some hospitality services to a 9% lower rate in the upcoming budget
This will more than likely come into effect on July 1, 2025.
This includes Restaurants, cafés, general catering services, and hairdressing services.
According to figures released by the Department of Finance last year, lowering the VAT rate to 9% for the whole hospitality industry would cost €764 million a year.
During the three-year COVID era, the above services also benefited from the 9% rate. The current 13.5% was reached on September 31, 2023.
Hotel and lodging services were included in this.
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