Bargain pub chain Wetherspoons has said it will slash the price of its food and drink items for one day only next week.

The one-day promotional offer will be held on Thursday September 14th, which is National Tax Equality Day, and is part of a campaign to highlight the burden of tax on the hospitality industry. 

Chairman of Wetherspoons Tim Martin said they want to expose the ‘vast disparity’ in how pubs and restaurants are taxed, compared with supermarkets.

He also hopes to highlight how a permanent VAT reduction would help benefit pubs and restaurants in seeing more customers come through their doors.

Those heading to their local Spoons boozer can enjoy around 7.5% off their order.

The drop in price means, for example, a customer spending £10 on a food and drink order could get it for £9.25 instead.

Wetherspoons has also added a VAT calculator to its website to show how much customers could save at their local Spoons boozer.

Mr Martin said: “The biggest threat to the hospitality industry is the vast disparity in tax treatment among pubs, restaurants and supermarkets.

“Supermarkets pay zero VAT in respect of food sales, whereas pubs and restaurants pay 20%. This tax benefit allows supermarkets to subsidise the selling price of beer.

“Pubs have been under fantastic pressure for decades because of the tax disadvantages which they have with supermarkets.”

He argued that the hospitality industry is ‘subsidising supermarkets’ due to these tax rules, adding: “We urge the Chancellor to tax equality between pubs and supermarkets.”

It’s not the first time Mr Martin has been vocal about the issue and has even accused some senior politicians of a ‘lack of understanding’.

Wetherspoons has already closed 29 of its sites this year with several more up for sale.

It now runs over 800 pubs across the UK and Ireland. The chain is set to report record total sales across its pubs for the latest financial year after having bumper Easter and May Bank Holiday trading weekends.

A new Greek-mediterranean restaurant opening in Manchester is offering people the chance to be one of the first through its doors, with a competition to its 50% off soft launch.

Fenix, Manchester’s highly anticipated modern Greek-Mediterranean restaurant, will be making its grand opening this November at St John’s by Spinningfields.

From the creators behind renowned dining destination Tattu – Permanently Unique – this exciting and glossy edition will be bringing a taste of Mykonos, along with its vibrant culture, to the city’s culinary scene. 

To celebrate its upcoming opening, Fenix is offering people the chance to attend its exclusive half price soft launch with an interactive competition.

Hopeful entrants could be in with a chance to step foot in its beautifully designed building before anyone else, and taste the wonderful cuisine.

Passers-by are invited to participate in a thrilling challenge: to identify three hidden words cleverly concealed among the Greek letters on a large stone located in Spinningfields (pictured above).

The competition goes as follows:

1. Spot the three secret words cleverly hidden among Greek letters at the designated activation area. 
2. Use your smartphone to scan the QR code provided – which will lead you to the competition entry page.
3. Enter the three words you’ve discovered and your email address.
4. Be amongst the first to experience FENIX!

FENIX promises an unparalleled dining experience, marrying contemporary culinary techniques with traditional Greek ingredients and flavours. 

Spearheaded by two esteemed chefs hailing from Greece, Executive Head Chef Ippokratis Anagnostelis and Head Chef Zisis Giannouras, the restaurant’s sharing-concept menu is designed to take diners on a captivating journey of Greek – Mediterranean gastronomy.

If you’d like to enter the competition but cant get to the stone, you can also enter from the link in Fenix’s Instagram bio by clicking HERE.

Japanese restaurant New Wave Ramen has announced it will be opening a permanent site in Manchester later this year.

New Wave Ramen is set to open a two-floor restaurant in a historic building on Tib Lane this October, following their whirlwind success at the Mackie Mayor food hall.⁠ 

But they need the help of the public to get it firmly off the ground and bring something truly special to Manchester. To do this, the noodle icons are offering donators to their campaign the chance to win free ramen for a whole year, and all you have to do is back their new Kickstarter campaign.

Nestled between King Street and Manchester Town Hall, the new location promises to be a space ‘full of character and charm’. Inspired by the new wave styles of Tokyo, it will offer ramen bowls by day and a family-style menu of small plates and izakaya sharing platters by night.

All of its dishes will be cooked over sustainable charcoal and will feature their signature ramen, stuffed chicken wings, koji aged steaks, and hay smoked chicken, along with sustainable seafood and a robust selection of plant-based dishes.

This dining experience will be complimented by a carefully curated list of wines, sake, beers and highballs, keeping the principles of Japanese hospitality at its core.

The team behind New Wave are people who are deeply passionate about Japanese food and culture with extensive experience in Michelin-starred restaurants and ramen shops.

New Wave also seeks to offer its dinners an experience that is more than just about great food. 

Owners Phil Cook, Matt Walsh, and DJ and member of UK band Editors, Elliott Williams, intend to blend food and music cultures, particularly the symbiosis between ramen and music, to create a unique atmosphere for their patrons.

The venue promises a fun, relaxed space where customers can experience the highest level of service without any gimmicks or stereotypes, soundtracked  by an eclectic playlist from some of the city’s best DJ’s and music selectors.

The new addition will include an open kitchen and bar with counter dining where customers can experience their dishes being prepared in real time, and most excitingly on the floor below its very own custom built noodle room – where fresh noodles will be prepared daily.

As part of the preparations for the opening, New Wave is currently recruiting several team members to ensure a strong start.

 A crowdfunding campaign has also been set up to help get this new venture off the ground, which also provides opportunities for supporters to grab the first bowls served at the restaurant, tickets to exclusive events, and other rewarding experiences.

One lucky winner will be selected at random to receive unlimited ramen for a year with a ‘New Wave Gold Card’, and four people will also be selected to win two tickets each to New Wave’s soft launch.⁠

Supporters can pledge £15 for a bowl of ramen, £30 for a ramen date-for-two, or as much as they wish. There’s also t-shirts, exclusive menu previews, and plenty of other great rewards for your support. All you have to do is select your reward before the end of the Kickstarter campaign on September 1st.⁠

To pledge a donation and bring the New Wave Ramen culture to life in Manchester, click HERE.