Video: This will ‘kickstart York’s tourism and hospitality business’

Phil Pinder is not only chair of the York Retail Forum (see earlier) he is the co-owner of The Potions Cauldron shop on Shambles, and about to launch a new leisure business – Coppergate’s mini golf attraction The Hole In Wand.

So he has a lot invested in the success of the retail and hospitality sector in York.

“On the whole it’s very good news,” he said of today’s budget. The extension of the business rates holiday till June, plus a further nine months at two-thirds the rate is “really welcome”.

The VAT threshold staying at £84,000 was less good news, but the 5% reduced VAT rate “which will kickstart our tourism and hospitality business”.

He described the reopening grants as “quite generous”.

“All we need now is to get back to normal and get back up and running.”