Blackpool's Notarianni's owner Luca Vettese takes his case to the chancellor as schools break up for summer

Blackpool’s most popular ice cream maker joined one of the town’s MPs in a special visit to 11 Downing Street to meet the Chancellor.

As Blackpool South schoolchildren head into their last week of term, Blackpool South MP Chris Webb has taken one of the town's best-known small business owners straight to the heart of government – inviting Notarianni's ice cream maker Luca Vettese to 11 Downing Street to meet the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves.

The visit came as the Great British Summer Savings scheme launched across the country – allowing families to benefit from discounts on Blackpool attractions this summer.

The chancellor has cut VAT from 20% to 5% on children's meals in restaurants, children's cinema and theatre tickets, and entry to attractions including theme parks, soft play centres and museums. Free bus travel for children aged five to 15 in England also begins on August 1.

In Blackpool South alone, the policy could benefit thousands of local families. Government figures show around 14,800 children aged 5 to 15 in the constituency stand to gain from free August bus travel, while roughly 12,800 local families with dependent children could see the benefit of reduced VAT on days out this summer.

Luca Vettese is the fourth generation of his family to make ice cream on Blackpool's Waterloo Road, where Notarianni's has been serving the same homemade recipe to holidaymakers and residents for nearly a century. Webb invited Vettese to Downing Street to make sure the Chancellor heard directly from a small hospitality business about the pressures it's facing.

Luca Vettese said: "It was a very surreal experience being invited to 11 Downing Street for an event to discuss the Great British Summer Savings. I voiced my concerns to the chancellor about the struggles that all businesses are facing – especially small businesses and the hospitality industry.

“I told her that a VAT reduction is a must, and that rising costs things line National Insurance and energy need dealing with. I also talked to her about the potential of Blackpool becoming a tourism Enterprise Zone – where businesses are given incentives to allow them to grow.

“Big thanks to Chris for inviting me and getting me in front of the chancellor for have my voice heard.”

Notarianni's ice cream parlour has been serving Blackpool since 1928, when the Notarianni family emigrated from Italy. Luca Vettese is the fourth generation of the family in the business.

The Great British Summer Savings scheme runs until 1 September 2026. Free bus travel for children aged 5-15 in England runs throughout August.

Chris Webb, MP for Blackpool South, said: "Luca and his family have been part of the fabric of Blackpool for generations.

“He’s a great ambassador for our town and there's nobody better placed to tell the Chancellor exactly what our seaside small businesses need to survive and thrive. That's exactly why I wanted him in the room at Downing Street – not me speaking for Blackpool, but a Blackpool business speaking for itself.

“I’ve had lots of conversations with the chancellor about the issues Luca mentions, and about Blackpool as a whole, and I know she gets it. She told me recently that her grandparents actually used to run a guesthouse in Blackpool. So she’s been very receptive, and that’s why she’s launched the Great British Summer Savings.

"As children break up for the summer holidays this week, I want families to know that this government is paving the way for cheaper days out, cheaper meals and free bus travel for the kids throughout August. But I'll keep making the case, like Luca did, that we need to go further in backing the hospitality and tourism businesses that this town depends on.”