Overview
- Treasury minister Lucy Rigby said businesses may choose which payment methods to accept and the Government has no plans to change the law.
- JD Wetherspoon has refused Scottish £20 and £50 notes in most English pubs since November 2024, citing a reported surge in counterfeits it says was flagged by the Bank of England.
- The company says the restriction does not apply in Scotland or in certain English towns and cities with close links to Scotland.
- Officials highlighted that the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 includes safeguards for public access to cash and gives the Bank of England new powers over wholesale cash distribution.
- Reports of customer inconvenience continue, and Wetherspoon says it will keep the policy under review.