PEP’S BUDGET PAE-HELLA 

Real reason Pep Guardiola’s restaurant is shutting down revealed – and Rachel Reeves’ brutal Budget is to blame

The restaurant blamed ‘exceptionally challenging trading conditions and increased costs’ for their decision to close up

PEP Guardiola’s restaurant is shutting down — a victim of Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s brutal Budget tax attack.

Tast Catala, set in a swish Manchester street, was regularly used by the Spaniard to entertain City signings and the club’s executive board.

Pep Guardiola with chef Paco Pérez in a kitchen.
Pals Pep Guardiola and top chef Paco Pérez served native dishes at the restaurant
 

Pep Guardiola entering TAST restaurant.
Guardiola’s restaurant Tast Catala is shutting down after costs soaredCredit: Eamonn & James Clarke
 

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves holding her red ministerial budget box.
It has become another victim of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s brutal Budget tax attackCredit: PA
Premier League stars and bosses such as Mikel Arteta and Kevin De Bruyne visited to tuck into dishes including £43 squid ink rice.

Pep and top chef Paco Pérez opened the venue seven years ago to bring a taste of their native Catalonia to the city.

But a statement on its website on Tuesday revealed Tast is closing this Saturday, saying it had faced “exceptionally challenging trading conditions and increased costs”.

Labour Chancellor Ms Reeves has been slammed for letting restaurants and pubs foot the bill in a shake-up of business rates.

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UKHospitality says venues will pay 76 per cent extra on average — leading to fears that hundreds more will shutter up.

This is yet another example of how cost pressures are forcing venues to take the hard decision to close for good.

UKHospitality’s Allen Simpson

Soaring labour and operating costs, rising energy bills, supply issues and lower consumer spending are also hammering the sector.

UKHospitality’s Allen Simpson said last night: “This is yet another example of how cost pressures are forcing venues to take the hard decision to close for good.

“Successive Budgets have dramatically increased the cost of employment and will soon send business rates soaring. Unfortunately, this will only accelerate business closures and job losses.