The government today announced a temporary reduction in VAT on children’s food and drink and admissions to family attractions, cutting the rate from 20% to 5%. The change runs from 25th June to 1st September 2026, covering the school summer holiday period across the UK.
If you operate in hospitality, leisure or attractions, this announcement may well be relevant to you.
What is covered
The reduced rate is specifically targeted at children’s food and beverage and admissions. The rules around exactly which products and circumstances qualify are detailed, and determining what applies to your business is a matter for you and your tax adviser. Getting that clarity early is worthwhile, given the window opens in just over a month.
Why it pays to be prepared
The qualifying period is relatively short. Businesses that understand their position and have the right setup in place before 25th June will be best placed to benefit from the full window. Leaving it late risks missing part of the period or introducing errors at one of the busiest trading times of the year.
How we can help
At MCR Systems, we work with operators across hospitality, leisure and attractions to make sure their technology is set up to handle exactly these kinds of changes. If you want to talk through what this announcement means for your operation and how to prepare, we would be happy to help.
Get in touch with the team today.
[Let’s talk: https://www.mcr-systems.co.uk/contact]
