VAT Exclusive prices

micktheknife

Had our first post-lockdown hotel overnighter last night at the Dunblane Hydro Hilton - spending a voucher I got for my birthday earlier in the year, and very nice it was too.
Our evening meal was on the menu at £29 per person, nowhere on the menu did it say the price was VAT exclusive.
After the meal, the bill came, and I was surprised to find there was 5% VAT added to the price of the food and drink. I was under the impression that prices had to be shown VAT inclusive in non-B2B pricing.
I didn't make an issue of it, as a) wasn't sure if this was allowed or not, and b) it was only about a tenner - but the more I thought about it, I feel I need a bit of clarity about what is legal and what is not.

Can anyone confirm if Hilton Group are allowed to do this?

daveyjp

What are the actual figures?

comeandgo

Are you sure it was vat and not a service charge?  Also, if the meals were £29 and the vat was nearly £10 that would mean final bill about £200.  Also alcohol is not included in the 5% vat rate.

micktheknife

comeandgo said:

Are you sure it was vat and not a service charge?  Also, if the meals were £29 and the vat was nearly £10 that would mean final bill about £200.  Also alcohol is not included in the 5% vat rate.

Defo mentioned VAT not service - stupidly managed to lose actual restaurant bill, the overall figures are shown below.
As I say, it's not the money I'm interested in, it's the principle of whether companies are allowed to quote VAT exclusive prices, to the public, without making it crystal clear in the menu pricing.

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON DUNBLANE HYDRO  

CHARGES:

25/07/2020 KAILYARD                            £89.60

25/07/2020 B & B                                    £110.40

BALANCE                                                £200.00

TAX SUMMARY

Taxable Amount (excl VAT)                      £178.97

Zero Rated Amount £0.00

VAT AT 20%                                              £2.77

VAT AT 5%                                                £8.26

Non Taxable Amount                                 £10.00

Total Amount Payable                               £200.00

bradders1983

Not very clear from above but I am 99% certain that if restaurants advertise prices it has to include VAT, and they cant just add it on at the end on the bill.

daveyjp

The breakdown doesn't confirm your assertion that VAT has been added to the £29.

Its a typical VAT breakdown invoice received after any hotel stay.

bradders1983

About to say, that doesnt look like a restaurant receipt, assuming you got the meal added to your account it is wrapped up in either the KAILYARD (no idea what that means) or the B & B line, nobody here is going to know what was produced at the end of the meal in the restaurant except you.

Penguin_

bradders1983 said:

About to say, that doesnt look like a restaurant receipt, assuming you got the meal added to your account it is wrapped up in either the KAILYARD (no idea what that means) or the B & B line, nobody here is going to know what was produced at the end of the meal in the restaurant except you.

I'd hazzard a guess that Kailyard is the bar/restaurant.

bradders1983

Probably, aye, It looks like you have been charged 5% VAT on most of it though, although I guess you spent £13.85 plus VAT on alcohol.

But again, unless you produce the reciept from the meal alone, or even a picture of the menu showing it said £29, nobody can assist.

bradders1983

Yes it is the name of the restaurant, indeed there is a sample menu online...

https://www.doubletreedunblane.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EDIDU-Kailyard-Menu-01.pdf

OP I assume you took advantage of the £29.95 offer for 2 courses as stated in the bottom right? In which case you certainly should have been charged £28.52 plus VAT (to equal £29.95) and certainly NOT £29.95 and then with an extra £1.50 on top.

Are you 100% sure the bill was adding the 5% on TOP of the advertised prices and it just wasnt splitting it out on the receipt to £28.52 food plus £1.43 or so VAT?

comeandgo

As others have said your receipt shows only that vat was charged but you need to show us where the £29 meals are and what else is included.