The Benett Arms, Semley

16/06/2026

14/06/2026

Our horse box bar made an appearance at the Semley Village Fete yesterday!

06/06/2026

Hospitality is one of the UK’s greatest success stories. It employs millions of people, gives
young people their first jobs, keeps high streets alive and brings communities together.
But the sector is under enormous pressure. Rising energy costs. Food inflation. Huge
employment costs. Unjust business rates. The highest tax burden in the UK economy.
And on top of all of that — a 20% VAT rate that is among the highest in Europe.
On 1 July, the hospitality industry is coming together to launch ‘VAT’s the Problem’ — the united sector campaign calling for hospitality VAT to be reduced from 20% to 10%.
This is a plan for fair tax.
This is a plan for growth.
Countries including Spain, Italy, France, Ireland and Germany know how important hospitality is to society, and they know it pays too much tax. That’s why they already support hospitality with lower VAT rates. The UK deserves the same.
A 10% VAT rate would:
• Support pubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels and nightclubs, and many more.
• Get businesses investing in jobs and helping our customers
• Strengthen high streets and local communities
Because when hospitality businesses close, communities lose far more than places to eat
and drink — they lose connection, opportunity and local identity.
This campaign is about everyone: Our customers, waiting staff, chefs, kitchen porters,
bar staff, hotel teams, farmers, brewers, suppliers and producers.
Tom Kerridge is spearheading this nationwide movement, and we are asking the whole of
hospitality to stand together to say Vat’s The Problem – 10% is fair for hospitality.

27/05/2026

Steak Night Tonight!

2 for £25!

Same great steaks!

Same great price!

The weather is great, the Ale is real!

Come on down!

24/05/2026

Classic cars Sunday is here! The sun is shining and we have roast dinners, sandwiches, burgers and more!

23/05/2026

Our beer garden is freshly mowed, umbrellas are out, we have cold beer and wine! Come and join us!

15/05/2026

Thrilled to be hosting Hiking Ginger and friends this evening as he finished the South Coast Walk today and has raised over £25,500 for Alzheimer's.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BgaBvn9bh/

09/05/2026

A great morning sewing the seeds for our new wildflower meadow. Fabulous turnout and generous donations to help launch The Acorn Project. (We have saved an area and seeds for the village school so they can be part of this project also.) So grateful to Naomi LG for their dream, passion, and organisation and also to Chris Anderson for many hours of hard work preparing the soil. So many people have helped this dream become a reality, the beauty of which will be shared by villagers, visitors, and the insect world for years to come.