‘Tax break tart’: hospitality tipped to exploit summer VAT cut on children’s meals

Pubs and restaurants are likely to invent enterprising ruses to avail themselves of the tax break for customers under 18, which those in the trade had derided as a ‘laughable’ scheme. Photograph: Maskot/Getty Images

Restaurants and pubs are expected to devise “enterprising” schemes to exploit a tax break on meals for under-18s, after one venue launched a menu for “kids” featuring wild burgundy snail salad and anchovy butter toast.

Rachel Reeves last month announced a temporary cut in VAT on children’s meals from 20% to 5% between 25 June and 1 September, part of a “Great British summer savings scheme” to support struggling venues and ease pressure on families.