DINERS could grab a cheap lunch for one day only when pubs and restaurants around the town reduced their prices to take part in national Tax Equality Day.

Many hospitality outlets reduced their normal prices by around 7.5 per cent for the day yesterday to reflect how a cut in VAT could affect their prices.

All four of the JD Wetherspoons pubs in the town were among those who joined the campaign, with The Savoy in Regent Street, The Groves Company Inn and the Sir Daniel Arms, both in Fleet Street and The Dockle Farmhouse in Bridge End Road all taking part.

The Savoy manager, Liam Stack, said: “We are proud to support the campaign to reduce the level of VAT within the pub industry.

“Customers coming to the pubs on Wednesday found the price of their food and drink was lower than normal.

“We are keen to highlight the amount customers would save if VAT in pubs was lowered.

“So, for example, the total price of a meal and drinks for a customer at the pubs would be reduced from £10 to £9.25 on Tax Equality Day.”

Pubs, restaurants and bars all pay 20 per cent on all their food and drink while the ever increasing number of supermarkets pay zero VAT on all food.

The Tax Equality Day campaign proposes reducing VAT to just five per cent.

Backers say the reduction will encourage visitors and residents to spend more in the bars and restaurants in towns which would have a directly positive impact not only on local business but on the UK economy as a whole.

Wetherspoons chairman Tim Martin said: “A reduction in the level of VAT on a long-term basis will generate growth and create jobs in the important leisure and hospitality sector.

“Creating tax equality between pubs, restaurants and supermarkets will fulfil many Government objectives.

“It will create more jobs and it will raise the amount of taxes the Government receives, since pubs and restaurants pay more taxes and create more jobs than supermarkets.

“It’s a win-win situation for the Government, voters and our industry.”

Enterprise Inns, which owns several tenanted pubs in Swindon and the surrouding areas, left it up to the discretion of the individual publican to take part in the day after making them aware of their existence.

The campaign has been spearheaded by Jacques Borel who has achieved VAT cuts in a number of European countries, including France, Germany, Belgium and Finland.

He said: “I am confident that Tax Equality Day will be a great success and that the price reductions will be welcomed by customers.

“At present all food and drink in pubs is subject to 20 per cent VAT, compared to supermarkets which benefit from a zero VAT rate.

“Our message is clear – a reduction in the level of VAT on a long-term basis will generate growth and create jobs in the important leisure and hospitality sector.”