‘Hands off hospitality’ was the rallying cry delivered at the British Hospitality Association’s (BHA) centenary lunch, yesterday.

Speaking to 900 guests at the Grosvenor House in London, BHA chief executive and Caterer’s guest editor this week, Bob Cotton, urged new UK prime minister Gordon Brown to resist the temptation to further regulate the hospitality industry.

“Have we not survived so well because governments have largely left us alone,” said Cotton.

The BHA boss said the industry’s success, which now sees it worth £100b and still growing, was down purely to the talent, skills and determination of those working within it.

Cotton said: “The moral of this is clear. Let’s keep government’s hands off the industry.”

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By Chris Druce

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