A Blackpool ice cream maker has taken the concerns of the town's hospitality sector straight to the Chancellor after being invited to 11 Downing Street by Blackpool South MP Chris Webb.
Luca Vettese, the fourth-generation ice cream maker behind the famous Notarianni's on Waterloo Road, travelled to London to meet Chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of the launch of the Government's new Great British Summer Savings scheme.
The initiative aims to help families with the cost of summer holidays through discounts and travel support, including a reduction in VAT from 20 per cent to five per cent on children's meals in restaurants, children's cinema and theatre tickets, and entry to attractions such as theme parks, museums and soft play centres.
Children aged between five and 15 will also be able to travel by bus for free throughout August.
Government figures suggest around 14,800 children aged five to 15 in Blackpool South could benefit from free bus travel, while approximately 12,800 local families with dependent children could benefit from reduced VAT on days out during the school holidays.
Mr Webb said he invited Mr Vettese to Downing Street so that the Chancellor could hear directly from an independent business owner about the challenges facing the hospitality industry.
Notarianni's has been serving ice cream from its Waterloo Road premises for almost a century and is one of Blackpool's best-known family-run businesses.
Speaking after the visit, Mr Vettese said:
"It was a very surreal experience being invited to 11 Downing Street for an event to discuss the Great British Summer Savings.
"I voiced my concerns to the chancellor about the struggles that all businesses are facing – especially small businesses and the hospitality industry.
"I told her that a VAT reduction is a must, and that rising costs things like National Insurance and energy need dealing with.
"I also talked to her about the potential of Blackpool becoming a tourism Enterprise Zone – where businesses are given incentives to allow them to grow.
"Big thanks to Chris for inviting me and getting me in front of the chancellor to have my voice heard."
Mr Webb said Mr Vettese was the ideal person to represent Blackpool's tourism and hospitality industries.
The Labour MP said:
"Luca and his family have been part of the fabric of Blackpool for generations.
"He's a great ambassador for our town and there's nobody better placed to tell the Chancellor exactly what our seaside small businesses need to survive and thrive.
"That's exactly why I wanted him in the room at Downing Street – not me speaking for Blackpool, but a Blackpool business speaking for itself."
Mr Webb added that he had repeatedly raised issues affecting Blackpool businesses with the Chancellor and said she understood the town's tourism economy.
He said:
"I've had lots of conversations with the chancellor about the issues Luca mentions, and about Blackpool as a whole, and I know she gets it.
"She told me recently that her grandparents actually used to run a guesthouse in Blackpool.
Read more
"So she's been very receptive, and that's why she's launched the Great British Summer Savings.
"As children break up for the summer holidays this week, I want families to know that this government is paving the way for cheaper days out, cheaper meals and free bus travel for the kids throughout August.
"But I'll keep making the case, like Luca did, that we need to go further in backing the hospitality and tourism businesses that this town depends on."
Share