1st July: TVA Day

Today TVA (VAT) on meals and non-alcoholic beverages consumed in restaurants, hotels and bars in France has been cut from 19.6% (the customary French rate) to a special rate of 5.5%.

It will be very interesting to see what actual difference this will make. How far will restaurant and café owners pass on the decrease or will they see this as an opportunity to make a little more profit in difficult economic times?

Last week I noticed in Vailly-sur-Saudre an announcement at the Auberge du Cerf that their cheapest menu at 19.50€ would be cut to 17.50€ when vat on restaurant meals will be reduced on 1st July. No mention of a reduction on the more expensive menus.

Unfortunately not in France at the moment but would be very interested to know what is actually happening, so any comments etc. would be most welcome.

After the euphoria – reality bites!

Will bills really be cut in French restaurants?

Today La Nouvelle République is reporting that doubts are now surfacing over whether the cutting of TVA (VAT) for restaurants really will mean reduced bills for customers. The French government is now expected to announce the new rate, which apparently won't apply until 2010, before the end of April but will restaurants pass the cut on?

Restauration: qui va profiter de la baisse de la TVA ?
(Who will benefit from the reduction in TVA?)

Also in today’s edition a report on Domaine Tancrez (Touraine Amboise/Touraine Mesland) converting to organic viticulture and their portes ouvertes on 9th-10th May.

•••

Other events:

Sunday 26th April 2009: De Calèches en caves (horse and trap@Varrains, near Saumur)

Opportunity to take free rides in a horse and trap through the village of Varrains. Organised walk in the vines starting at 9.30 and a chance to see the programme of biodiversity put in place by the Saumur-Champigny producers and a chance to taste and buy from 10 vignerons.

Petits et grands trouveront leur bonheur dans ce programme attrayant et varié:

Le matin, prenez place au départ de la randonnée champêtre au coeur des vignes... placée sous le thème de la biodiversité du Saumur-Champigny. Assistez également au défilé de voitures anciennes pour replonger dans les temps de jadis. Baladez-vous en calèche dans ce village de vignerons et partez à la découverte de son patromoine architectural.

Au programme également : artisanat d'art, mais aussi dégustations de Saumur-Champigny par les vignerons de l'appellation.

... et bien sur le tout en musique!

Programme:

En continu :

- Ballade gratuite en calèche (10 attelages)
- Marché d'artisanat
- Animations musicales
- Découverte du patrimoine viticole d'un village de vignerons (caves, vieux pressoirs,architecture)
- Produits du terroirs
- Dégustation de Saumur Champigny chez 10 vignerons
- Marché des vins locaux

Rendez-vous :
- 9h30 : Randonnée dans les vignoble du Saumur-Champigny, commentaires sur le programme de biodiversité initié par le Syndicat des Producteurs de Saumur Champigny (2 heures)
- 12h/14h : déjeuner place de la Folies
- 15h : défilé de vieilles voitures par le « rétroviseur Saumurois »

Plus d'infos
Modalités d'accès :
Verres de vin à dégustation : 2,50 €

Départ de la randonnée : 9h30

Appellation(s) d'Origine Contrôlée à découvrir : Saumur-Champigny

Contact:
Mme Millon et M. Fouquet, Mairie de Varrains, 2 Rue de la Mairie, 49400 Varrains
Téléphone: 02.41.52.90.78
email : mairie.varrains@wanadoo.fr

French restaurant prices to be slashed?

Restaurant meals in France could now be dramatically cheaper

Even better value in the future at Le Pot de Lapin in Saumur

Agreement was reached at a meeting of EU finance ministers on Tuesday 10th March that VAT rates within the European Union could be varied from sector to sector. Hitherto there has been pressure that an EU country should have only one VAT rate. This would have meant that the 5.5% rate on home improvements and repairs on French houses more than two years old would have been scrapped and the full TVA rate of 19.6% would have been levied.

Val de Vienne, Sazilly near Chinon

The agreement will allow France to lower its rate of TVA on restaurant meals. This could go as low as 5.5%. Apparently there is due to be a meeting between the French Government on Monday. There are reports that the Government wants 12%, while some restaurateurs will push for 5.5% and others may be happy with 8% as a compromise.

I gather that the agreement will also allow the VAT on shoe repairs to be reduced!

This looks to be particularly good news given the way Sterling has nose-dived against the euro recently.