The independent hospitality sector is street food, it’s event and festival catering, it’s mobile bars, it’s your venue, your café, bar or restaurant, your hotel, your indie pub – it’s all of us. We need to continue to support each other and raise the profile of the businesses that make our villages, towns, cities, venues and events the places we love.
Thank you so much to all of the independent businesses across high streets, street food markets, events and festivals, the MPs who supported the campaign, the BIDs who support so many independents, the food bloggers, the street food organisations and indie food social platforms.
It’s clear to see how much love and respect there is for independent food & drink businesses – let’s please continue to raise the profile of these amazing businesses and support their growth.
Special thanks to Laurence Turner MP who sponsored our event in Parliament.
“Independent hospitality businesses are not only key drivers of local employment and growth but also play a crucial role in our local communities. We are grateful to MPs for supporting Independent Hospitality Week and for championing the contribution of caterers and independent hospitality businesses in their constituencies.”
NCASS continues to work on behalf of members and the wider industry to urge government to recognise the unique challenges faced by small mobile and bricks & mortar hospitality businesses and for greater support to ensure their survival and success in the years ahead. We need a thriving independent hospitality sector to ensure we have healthy, vibrant places that people want live, work and enjoy.
If you would like us to set up a meeting with your MP, please contact our Public Affairs lead [email protected]
Small and Micro businesses in the hospitality industry that are owned and operated by individual entrepreneurs or small groups rather than corporate entities. They typically contribute positively to their own communities and offer unique, personalised experiences. They have more flexibility in how they manage operations, customer service, and the overall atmosphere of their establishments compared to large chains.
There are tens of thousands of independent hospitality business who work hard in a challenging economy to open their doors, hatches and hearts to customers every day and who bring their brand of hospitality to highstreets, events and venues across the country.
Here at NCASS, we champion independents and want to bring the country together to celebrate and support them, so we launched Independent Hospitality Week (IHW).
IHW is a week for everyone to choose independents, share food and drink experiences and back the businesses that make our cities, towns and villages what they are.
From the 5th – 11th May 2025, we’re asking businesses and their customers to come together and shout about how much their local bars, cafes, restaurants pubs, street food, event & festival traders mean to them.
Collectively we want to make as much noise as possible about how important these wonderful food and drink businesses are. Putting the hard-working entrepreneurs who make up the backbone of the UK everyday economy in the spotlight.
There is real strength in their diversity, resilience, creativity and innovation. A strength that if championed, would create meaningful economic growth. The independent hospitality sector has huge economic potential, however for too long now, the challenges faced by businesses have overshadowed their growth.
The sector needs a boost. This Independent Hospitality Week, please shout about, support and share the campaign.
Below is a selection of assets for you to download, please share and showcase your support for Independent Hospitality Week!
Use the button below each design to download a high resolution jpg.
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