An adviser to Rachel Reeves‘ has caused fury after saying Britain ‘doesn’t need any more restaurants’.
Alexandra Depledge, the government’s entrepreneurship adviser, said the UK ‘lacks economic resilience’ due to its over-reliance on businesses in hospitality and retail.
Speaking to Insider Media, she said: ‘We don’t need any more restaurants. I’m not anti-hospitality but that’s not where my efforts are.’
The technology entrepreneur and founder of architectural firm Resi met Rachel Reeves in 2022 and became an adviser in 2025.
She argued that the government should be focusing on investing in tech start-ups in sectors such as quantum computing and AI.
Her comments have caused fury among the hospitality sector, as hundreds of pubs and restaurants across the country have struggled to cope since the Chancellor’s tax raid budget.
Industry heads previously warned six hospitality venues could close every day in the next year without proper support – more than 2,000 premises.
Chair of the Night Time Industries Association Sacha Lord said Ms Depledge’s comments were ‘disgusting’.
Alexandra Depledge, the government’s entrepreneurship adviser, said the UK ‘lacks economic resilience’ due to its over-reliance on businesses in hospitality
Mr Lord said: ‘The industry has been wondering why we are just being ignored – she has answered that question. They are not interested in us.
‘I completely push back on it. I am pretty sure most people want to see the survival of the British high street, and that is where I was hoping Labour would try to help maintain and support.
‘When they increased national insurance for employers, it took us completely by surprise.
‘We are the UK’s fifth biggest sector and third largest employer. When you look at SMEs we are the biggest employer in the private sector.
‘It is alarming that she has this opinion.’
Last month, Mr Lord told The Mail that he believed the Labour government had been ‘worse for pubs than the pandemic’.
He added: ‘This absolutely highlights it, we were hoping for something next week in the spring statement. Now we are expecting absolutely nothing.
‘The government has turned its back on us. It is now survival of the fittest.’
Ms Depledge was appointed as entrepreneurship adviser last June, in the build-up to the Autumn budget.
Under the measures announced in November’s Budget, a 40 percent relief on business rates introduced in the aftermath of the pandemic would be scrapped.
Pubs were facing an average rise in rates of 76 per cent over three years, while hotels were to go up 115 per cent.
Pub landlords told the Mail in January that they are already facing closing down and having sleepless nights over numbers that ‘just don’t add up’.
Chair of the Night Time Industries Association Sacha Lord said Ms Depledge’s comments were ‘disgusting’
Two weeks ago, Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham broke from the government’s message on hospitality and suggested the Prime Minister should cut VAT to ease pressure on the hospitality sector.
Mr Lord said cuts to VAT were ‘what the sector needed’, but said they were ‘unlikely’ to come while Rachel Reeves remains Chancellor.
Ms Depledge has now apologised for ‘any upset caused’ by her comments.
In a statement, she said: ‘I recognise that some of the remarks reported from this interview have caused concern, particularly among those working in hospitality. That was not my intention, and I’m sorry for the upset caused.
‘I started working in hospitality at the age of 13 doing everything from waitress to back of kitchen to bar tender and have nothing but respect for the sector and the people who work incredibly hard within it.
‘The hospitality sector is vital to our economy and to local communities. My focus as the Chancellor’s Entrepreneurship Advisor is on how we also create and scale more high‑growth businesses across the whole UK, so we can generate better‑paid, more secure jobs for the future alongside the jobs we have today.’
