“Please help your favourite pub, restaurant or cafe by signing this petition.”

The words of Andy Lennox, Founder of The Wonky Table which represents more than 500 hospitality businesses in the BCP, Dorset and Hampshire area.

The petition in question calls on the government to extend VAT at five per cent for the hospitality sector for a further 12 months until March 31, 2022.

Posted on the official ‘Petition Parliament’ website by Andy, it hit 10,000 signatures on February 7, within four days of its launch.

Reaching the 10,000 mark means the government has to respond.

At 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.

By midnight on February 12, the petition had 15,173 signatures.

Andy, pictured left, a multi award-winning restaurateur who owns Zim Braai in Ashley Cross and Bournemouth and Nusara in Christchurch, said: “Keeping VAT at five per cent is an essential lifeline for the hospitality industry’s recovery.

“It’s perhaps the single biggest Covid-19 relief measure and must be extended if the industry hopes to have any meaningful recovery.

“VAT at five per cent was the single biggest recovery mechanism from the last two lockdowns and helped us rebuild our businesses

“It will help keep rising inflation and costs down, encourage reinvestment and investment into the industry, help our industry return to profitability – and pay more Corporation Tax – and help save hundreds of thousands of jobs.

“Without this essential recovery mechanism many will now not re-open.

“We haven’t been able to trade for six months of the current 12 month VAT reduction to five per cent,

“We look to be the last in the country to open so at least give us a chance to recover before putting taxes up again.

“Reaching 10,000 signatures is just the start of the journey but it’s great to reach this milestone in just a few days.

“UK Hospitality, representing the sector nationwide, is fully supportive and we are working in tandem on a number of areas.

“My main message to everyone, including anyone who’s attended an event, is please sign the petition and write to your MP.”

In a letter to Andy, dated February 1, Paul Scully MP, pictured right, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets, said that the government accepted “that parts of the sector will be disappointed that the reduced rate of VAT of 5% for the hospitality sector and tourist attractions was not extended further [beyond March 31, 2021].

But, he added: “To help all businesses, the government introduced an unprecedented package of support measures, which are collectively worth over £300 billion.”

Andy said: “Much of the government support, while large in number, still means many are struggling to pay rent.

“The petition is not about getting government responses.

“It’s about showing government that businesses and people care and need the VAT at five per cent to remain.

“We will be writing to government again this week on the back of hitting the 10k mark.

“Our recent response from Paul Scully highlights that the continued VAT reduction is not being considered but our main aim is to push on with this petition to get as many signatures as possible.”

The petition can be signed at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/572283#