Richard said: “Our new Fat Crab and Cocktails has offi cially
launched at T e Red Lion and we’re very excited about bringing this latest up and coming food trend to Northamptonshire for the fi rst time. T ere will be fantastic seafood options which will be matched with some unique cocktails, some of which will include oyster and caviar and others will feature lobster or crab claws. “The idea is for everyone, including families, to come and
enjoy our outside dining area and (hopefully) the great British summer weather. We also have a big focus on food pairing with the Bloody Mary menu we’ve curated to complement it all, so it is the perfect opportunity to come and enjoy spectacular seafood. It’s an incredible, immersive dining experience.” T e latest business developments at Greedy Gordons come as
Richard has recently returned from a trip to the House of Commons with business partner Sonya Harvey. T e pair travelled to London in a bid to lobby MPs about the current crisis facing the hospitality industry. T e award-winning licensees have been campaigning to raise
awareness about the issues facing the sector, calling time on policies predicted to lead to 80% of pubs across the UK being deemed ‘non-viable’. Together, alongside industry publicans, they appealed to
Members of Parliament, highlighting how hospitality will be decimated by the government’s policies, which will negatively impact the industry. Richard, who runs award-winning pubs including T e Red Lion,
T e Snooty Fox and T e Pig & Waffl e in Grafton Underwood, is a campaigning champion for the hospitality sector and collectively he and Sonya have over 50 years of industry experience. As a member of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) he has
warned that many pubs across the county and nationwide will be severely impacted unless politicians make a U-turn. Planned policies are predicted to see the hospitality sector hit with an estimated £3.4bn price hike due to the increase in National Minimum Wage and employers’ National Insurance contributions. Richard and Sonya are among business leaders calling for
the government to delay the reduction in the employer National Insurance contributions threshold and urged politicians to provide the maximum possible discount to businesses in the industry in relation to business rates reform. T e pair were selected to lobby MPs after being announced as Punch Pub company award-winners. Richard said: “T e industry is in dire straits right now. As our pub T e Red Lion was awarded the Publican of the Year accolade
recently, Sonya and I were invited to join our partners at the Punch Pub company to make the recent visit to the House of Commons, where all the major brewers were in attendance. It was an opportunity to speak to the numerous MPs who attended question and answer sessions throughout the day, and it gave us all the chance to stand up for the hospitality industry. “We told them about our plight and had a voice for the day. In
support of what the British Institute of Innkeeping have been calling for, we urged the government to suspend the proposed National Insurance contribution increases, called for confirmation of continued business rates relief at the 75% level until comprehensive reform is delivered and sought the reduction of the overall tax burden on pubs with a priority on lower VAT for all pub sales. “It’s causing sleepless nights; it is really tough and although we
are busy, it is so hard right now.” Richard highlighted how the ‘burden’ of VAT, tax, PAYE and
minimum wage requirements, alongside business rates rising, will all take its toll on the industry. He added: “It was humbling to be asked to represent over 2,000
Punch Pubs, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent and stand up for everybody within the hospitality industry – it was incredible.” Bookings for the Fat Crab and Cocktails outdoor dining restaurant at T e Red Lion are available Wednesday to Sunday every week.
For more information, visit
www.greedygordons.co.uk
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