'Why hospitality matters to Leeds - and it is stronger when we work together'

On the back of our Summer Served campaign we’re calling for a stronger collective voice and closer city-wide collaboration as businesses face mounting pressures.

And the timing couldn’t be better as we look ahead to the crucial Budget announcement on Wednesday.

From independent cafés, pubs and restaurants to hotels, venues and major employers, hospitality is at the heart of Leeds’ identity. It supports jobs, breathes life into the city centre and helps make Leeds a destination to live, work and visit.

Hospitality brings our city to life. It creates thousands of jobs, develops skills, supports our high streets - and gives people places to connect and belong.

But we also know the sector faces real challenges and that is why the Yorkshire Evening Post is today bringing key people from our hospitality sector together to host a roundtable to look at how we can tackle those issues. 

We’re a city that comes together to help innovate and adapt - we know that rising costs, pressure on margins, recruitment and retention, and uncertainty about what comes next all make it harder for businesses to thrive.

And with Wednesday’s Budget just around the corner, there’s a real opportunity for government to recognise the value of hospitality.

It’s not just an industry, but a vital part of our economy, our communities and our city’s future.

No single organisation can solve these challenges alone. But by sharing ideas, listening to one another and focusing on practical action, we can make a real difference.

Wednesday’s Budget will be an important moment for the sector, and we hope it brings the recognition and support that businesses need.

But whatever comes out of Westminster, we have a responsibility, and an opportunity, to keep working together here in our own city.