Small business owner says Hunt’s budget must “do more” and is worried he will be forced to sell up

The owner of a small family business says Hunt’s budget must “do more” for the struggling hospitality sector and is worried he will be forced to sell up.

Napoli born Carmine Montuori, 52, has lived in the UK for nine years - running an independent Italian restaurant in Bristol. After multiple blows due to Covid, increased food and importation costs - the dad-of-three is “disappointed” with the absence of the hospitality sector in the spring budget announcement (today).

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt made his 2023 budget announcement - which promised small and medium size businesses credit of £27 for every £100 spent in research and development. He also plans to increase corporation tax from 19 to 25 per cent but there was no mention of taking action to help small restaurants.

Carmine, the owner of Taste of Napoli, said: “I’m very scared about the future. If we don’t find something that can help this sector - what are we going to do? If this sector dies, what will people do?

“People can’t just work, they need to relax and eat. They have given us some help in the past by making the business rates lower and fixing energy prices - but it still isn’t enough.”

Carmine says his family are struggling with sky-rocketing importation and food prices. He said: “We do everything 100 per cent the Italian way and have to import all our goods.”

Carmine says the price for a box of aubergines six months ago was £8.50 and says it now costs £13. He says arancini rice has doubled in price from £1.20 to £2.80 and the price of pasta has more than doubled from 40p to 89p. The price of extra virgin olive oil - essential for baking his crispy pizza bases at his restaurant - has soared from £22 to £37 for five litres.

Carmine said: “We are lucky we got a fixed price for energy bills but I’m scared for what might happen in June. Everywhere else in Europe energy prices are going down so I don’t know what is happening here - why is it doubling?”

Carmine adds his family would make money if the family were to sell-up and work elsewhere and is sad to think of a UK deprived of Napoli culture.

He said: “Why be open if we would make more money working for someone else?

“We make Zeppole di San Giuseppe which are sweet pastries we make for Father’s Day. We make the same pizza you eat in Italy. We only do this in my place [in Bristol] and we’re giving our culture to English people.”

Another challenge to his business is a lack of staff - which Carmine says is down to Brexit.

He said: “It was easier before Brexit. Now it’s a big problem. It would be better if they would allow people to come and work for six months to a year.”

Despite the next series of challenges ahead, Carmine remains positive. He said: “Neapolitan people, we are positive people. We live day by day, we think every day can change and get better. The sun has to come out, this is the way we live”