Whitbred owns Premier Inn, Beefeater and several restaurant brands.

Whitbred, the owner of Premier Inn, has warned that tax rises are becoming more likely and could pose a serious risk to the UK’s hospitality industry.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces a £40bn gap in the nation’s finances, which is ever-more likely to be filled by a tax-raising Autumn Budget.

The target of those tax rises has already been under heavy debate , with pundits predicting everything from a tax on landlords’ incomes to a reduction in tax breaks for Brits making pensions contributions.

“We recognise the mounting pressure for tax rises and broader fiscal tightening as part of the upcoming Budget,” Whitbred which reported a three per cent dip in half-year sales to £1.41bn on Wednesday, told markets this morning

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