We would like to thank The Herald and Scott Wright and the Herald team, for continuing to shine a light on the urgent need for non-domestic rates reform through their Reset the Rates campaign. This is an issue we have been raising for a number of years on behalf of hospitality businesses across Scotland, many of which have been hit with unsustainable and deeply unfair rate bills. Licensed hospitality is a sector that creates jobs, supports communities and drives local economies, but the current 173 year old policy, is holding back investment and growth. Campaigns like this are vital in helping keep the pressure on for meaningful reform, and we welcome The Herald’s support in pushing this important debate forward. @ScottWWright #resettherates

"When a licensed hospitality operator invests significantly to improve a premises, enhance the customer experience, increase footfall, or regenerate a site, that success is captured through the valuation methodology and translated directly into a higher rates bill. In reality, it is a tax on entrepreneurship and investment" "My recommendation is we move to a system where rates are calculated on the square footage of the premises and a competitive poundage rate, with a lower poundage rate for all licensed hospitality premises including the larger ones"... the words of @SirTomHunter “The current system means someone can take on a struggling property, invest heavily, employ lots of staff, buy better products and put their heart and soul into the business, only to see the rates bill go from £6,000 a year to £80,000 within a couple of revaluations".... the words of Jonathan MacDonald Our call continues: Tax the Property - Not the Business Read the article below: heraldscotland.com/opinion/2… @heraldscotland @ScottWWright

Tax the Property - Not the Business. Thank you to @heraldscotland and @ScottWWright for highlighting an issue SHG has raised for years. Scotland needs fair business rates that support investment, jobs and growth. It’s time for meaningful reform. We will continue to work with The Scottish Government to help shape a system that supports hospitality’s future. Read the story below: heraldscotland.com/news/2662… @scotgov @ASSCnews @FionaCampbell74

These are the faces behind Scotland’s hospitality. Jobs - Livelihoods - Local venues. Together, we are campaigning for fairer taxation and a stronger future for our sector Do you run a hospitality business? Join SHG and add your voice Email: [email protected] #ScottishHospitality #JoinSHG

TAX THE PROPERTY - NOT THE BUSINESS! It’s a message The Scottish Hospitality Group have been pushing for some time now, and one we will continue to champion until we see meaningful reform of Scotland’s Non-Domestic Rates system for licensed hospitality Licensed hospitality as a sector, should not be penalised for working hard, generating turnover, employing people and contributing to their local economies. Yet the way licensed hospitality is currently assessed means that, for many operators, their business performance directly influences their rates bill. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fairness. The Scottish Hospitality Group has worked tirelessly to highlight the inequalities within the current system, and securing a review into how licensed hospitality is valued for Non-Domestic Rates was an important step forward. But a review alone is not enough. We need to see meaningful change. Behind every hospitality business is an employer, a workforce, families, suppliers and a local community that depends on that business succeeding. Our message to the Scottish Government remains clear: Tax the property, not the business. We need a system built on fairness, transparency and sustainability, one that encourages businesses to grow rather than penalising them for doing so. Save jobs - Save livelihoods - Save our Venues #hospitality #fairness

If ever there was a need to show the positivity of reducing VAT for hospitality, then the Republic of Ireland has shown it works…….. twice! Time to do the right thing @andyburnham and reduce hospitality VAT now to 10% #vatstheproblem irishtimes.com/business/2026…

Today, the Scottish Hospitality Group had a really constructive meeting with Glasgow City Council Leader Ricky Bell and Deputy Leader Councillor Ruairi Kelly to introduce SHG, our work, and our vision for Glasgow We also raised non-domestic rates, parking charges and how we attract people back into the city, particularly during the week and on Sundays. We highlighted businesses’ concerns about reduced footfall since parking restrictions were introduced, and how the loss of free Sunday parking encourages visitors to choose out of city shopping destinations instead. Hospitality plays an essential part to Glasgow’s economy Thank you to both councillors for their time. The Scottish Hospitality Group looks forward to providing further input and working together with Glasgow City Council over the months and years ahead. #hospitality @Bell45 @RuairiKelly_

This is not fair. Edinburgh’s Castle of Light is being cancelled despite record visitors. The visitor levy was meant to enhance the visitor experience. Where is that money going, and have Edinburgh Council and Scottish Government explored support to save this event? @Edinburgh_CC @scotgov @ASSCnews @FionaCampbell74 @st_alliance @MCrothall thescottishsun.co.uk/news/16…

The Scottish Hospitality Group is looking forward to hosting our Ayrshire Hospitality Roundtable in Ayr this Monday, alongside Siobhian Brown MSP We are also pleased to be joined by Tom Arthur, Minister for Business and Fair Work, for what we hope will be an open and constructive discussion with hospitality businesses from across Ayrshire. These roundtables are about giving operators the opportunity to speak directly about the realities of running a hospitality business, the pressures they are facing, the barriers to investment and growth, and what needs to change to support a strong and sustainable sector. For SHG, it is important that those making policy hear directly from the businesses affected by it. We look forward to a productive discussion on Monday and, most importantly, making sure the voice of hospitality is heard. @ThomasCArthur

Hospitality and Self-Catering Together at Scottish Parliament Last night, the Scottish Hospitality Group joined the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers at the Scottish Parliament for a joint Parliamentary Reception, kindly hosted by Daniel Johnson MSP. We were pleased to welcome MSPs from five of the six parties represented at Holyrood, giving businesses the opportunity to speak directly with policymakers about the challenges facing our sector. Unfortunately, no @scottishgreens chose to attend. Both SHG and ASSC are keen to stress that the door remains open for constructive engagement with all parties, including the Greens, as this work continues A key message from SHG was the cumulative impact of policy. Hospitality businesses do not experience Non-Domestic Rates, employment costs, licensing, energy and regulation separately, they face them all at once. We need a more joined-up, proportionate and evidence-led approach that gives businesses the confidence to invest, employ and grow. Thank you to Daniel Johnson , Fiona Campbell MBE DUniv and the ASSC team, and everyone who joined us for a very positive evening of constructive discussion. SHG - The forward-thinking voice of hospitality in Scotland Read more: assc.co.uk/news/together-sel… @ASSCnews @FionaCampbell74 @DJforEdS

Andy Burnham said it himself: hospitality VAT in line with Europe He is now the Prime Minister, and it is time to turn those words into action. Scotland’s hospitality businesses are being squeezed by soaring rates, energy bills and food inflation. A permanent VAT reduction would protect jobs, encourage investment, make eating and drinking out more affordable and help businesses survive. Prime Minister, you understood the argument before entering Downing Street. Now you have the power to deliver. The Scottish Hospitality Group is calling on the UK Government to cut hospitality VAT to 10%. VAT’s the problem. Now let’s fix it. @andyburnham #vatstheproblem

Aberdeen businesses need the conditions to thrive. Following a Learning Journey to Aberdeen with the ASSC, SHG heard directly about the pressures facing hospitality and self-catering businesses, from rising costs and NDR to reduced footfall, regulation and the proposed 7% Visitor Levy. Businesses are ambitious about Aberdeen’s future. Now, a more joined-up approach is needed to help them invest, employ and grow. Read the full findings 👇 assc.co.uk/news/aberdeen-bus…

As part of our recent joint tour with the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (@ASSCnews) we stopped off in Aberdeen to meet hospitality and tourism businesses and hear first hand about both the opportunities and the challenges facing the city. There is real optimism about Aberdeen’s future, but businesses also told us clearly about the growing pressures they are dealing with, from rising operating costs and Non-Domestic Rates, to roadworks, bus gates, reduced footfall and the impact of further taxation. Some of the key concerns raised included: • Significant NDR increases, including some hospitality businesses seeing rateable values rise by more than £8500 PA • Reduced turnover and footfall for city-centre hospitality businesses • The cumulative impact of increasing costs, taxation and regulation • Concerns around the proposed 7% Visitor Levy and what it could mean for demand and Aberdeen’s competitiveness At SHG, we continue to make the point that businesses do not experience one individual policy in isolation, they experience them all at the same time Most importantly, our visit was about listening to businesses on the ground and making sure their experiences are heard by decision-makers. 📖 Read the full findings and recommendations: assc.co.uk/news/aberdeen-bus… Scottish Hospitality Group – The Forward Thinking Voice of Hospitality in Scotland

Montgomery said: “Government can point to national averages, but an average means very little to the business owner opening a rates bill showing an increase of 600% or 800%. “What is fair about that? More importantly, how is any business expected to afford it? sltn.co.uk/2026/08/24/scotla…

What can Scotland learn from getting policy right in Shetland? Following our joint Learning Journey to Shetland with the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers (ASSC), we have published a new report looking at what we heard directly from businesses and communities, and what needs to happen next. One message came through loud and clear: Hospitality cannot be looked at in isolation. 👉 A hotel cannot grow without staff. 👉 A restaurant cannot recruit without housing. 👉 A pub cannot thrive without visitors and local footfall. Businesses cannot invest with poor connectivity, rising costs and increasing regulation. Shetland has a fantastic hospitality and visitor economy, with passionate operators, great food and drink, strong local supply chains and huge potential for further growth. But if we want businesses to invest, recruit, expand and create more opportunities locally, then Government policy has to recognise that housing, workforce, transport, accommodation, skills and business viability are all connected. Our joint report sets out a Shetland 2035 proposition and 10 recommendations aimed at creating a more joined-up, evidence-led approach. Most importantly, it reflects what businesses told us when we were there: “We want our voices and our issues to be heard.” That is exactly why SHG went to Shetland, and why we intend to continue taking that approach into other island and rural communities across Scotland. Hospitality is not simply part of the visitor economy — in many communities, it is one of the foundations of the local economy. 👇 Read the full findings and recommendations below. assc.co.uk/news/learning-fro…

What should Shetland’s visitor economy look like in five years’ time? ASSC & Scottish Hospitality Group joined Hannah Mary Goodlad MSP and local businesses today to discuss growth, challenges and opportunities for Shetland. 👉 Read more: assc.co.uk/news/shetland-… @st_alliance @VisitScotNews @ShetlandTourism @ASSCnews

📍 Scottish Hospitality Group in Shetland | Day Two Yesterday, Stephen Montgomery - Scottish Hospitality Group and @FionaCampbell74 MBE Association of Scotlands Self Caterers spent the day listening, learning and talking with self-catering operators and hospitality businesses from across the islands. One message came through loud and clear: tourism in Shetland is booming. With tourism growing by 63% over the past two years and contributing £111.7 million to the Scottish economy, there is a real sense of opportunity – and some important questions about what comes next. What will Shetland look like in five years’ time? How do we make sure policy supports sustainable growth? What does a thriving visitor economy mean for jobs, communities and people choosing to live and work on the islands? And how can Shetland build on its success while protecting what makes it such a distinctive place to live and visit? Today is another big day for Fiona and Stephen. Todays agenda: • Meeting more self-catering operators and hospitality businesses • Joining BBC Radio Shetland to talk about the sector and what they have heard during their visit • Meeting Hannah Mary Goodlad MSP to continue the conversation around tourism, policy and the future of Scotland's visitor economy Lots more conversations, listening and learning ahead today and plenty more to share from Shetland. #Shetland @ASSCnews