A local restaurant is hoping that a dinner date will prove fruitful in securing more help from the Government for small businesses.

Vicky’s Brasserie in Haslemere recently welcomed newly elected MP Greg Stafford, who took a break from budget preparations to chat with businesses in town. Hosted by restaurant founder and CEO Ferris Cowper, the visit allowed Stafford to gain firsthand insight into the challenges of running a small business in today's economy.

Vicky's Brasserie is located just across the Petworth Road from the former home of Mr Stafford's grandparents, so the area holds a special affection for the new Farnham and Bordon MP.

"Greg is a great listener and really wanted to know the details,” said Ferris. "He asked how we had gone from nothing to one of the top restaurants in Surrey in just ten months, and I explained that I designed everything from the guest's place at the table. I knew nothing about the industry and the restaurant; just my own experiences as a diner.

"We talked a lot about the challenges facing small businesses in market towns like Haslemere. Increasing bureaucracy, more complex waste collection regimes, higher direct taxes, higher taxes on vital supplies such as wine, and higher staff costs all make it very tough indeed for restaurants like ours.”

Greg said: “Vicky’s is an asset to our local hospitality industry, and it was a pleasure to visit and meet some of their friendly staff. I have made my views on hospitality clear in the past and strongly feel that we must support them wherever we can.

“This independent business – like many others – is deeply concerned about Labour’s plans for higher taxes and their detrimental intervention in our service industries.”

Mr Stafford promised to take Mr Cowper’s messages back to Parliament.