Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism

Loungers boss Alex Reilley leaves board after being told not to publicly oppose Labour's tax plan.

City A.M. reports that Alex Reilley, co‑founder and chair of bar chain Loungers, has quit the government’s Hospitality Sector Council after claiming he was pressured not to criticise Labour’s tax agenda:contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.

Reilley said proposals such as creating hospitality zones were “tokenistic” and that freezing business rates would penalise job creators, arguing he refused to be gagged:contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.

Major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and John Lewis have warned that additional costs imposed by government could add £7 billion to business expenses.

Reilley’s departure underscores tensions between ministers and the hospitality sector over taxation and regulation.