Kerridge warns sector could "mothball"
In an interview with the BBC, Kerridge stated one of his restaurants, which is due to come to the end of its contract with the current energy supplier in December, had been quoted an increase of £30,00 a month for its electricity bills, due to rise from £5,000 a month to £35,000.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Nihal Arthanayake, he said: “Everything is electric. The stoves are electric, the ovens are electric, the fridges are on 24 hours a day, the extraction goes on. It's almost a 24 hour business 7 days a week.”
Ridiculous numbers
“The numbers are so ridiculous and ludicrous no wonder so many businesses are closing, talking of closing. There's lots of hotels talking [about] just mothballing it for the winter because they can't afford to keep the heating going.
“They're not busy enough to close it down, they'll shut it all down and reopen in spring, and these are decisions and conversations many people within hospitality businesses are having and I'm sure so many other businesses.”
Putting the numbers into perspective, Kerridge explained the electricity quote for his restaurant equated to an increase from £60,000 annually to £420,000, meaning to keep up with these increases, pubs and restaurants would have to charge customers “unviable” prices.
Just not viable
This comes as the renowned chef spoke to The Morning Advertiser earlier this month regarding issues across the board for hospitality businesses, stating the road ahead for the sector was “very bumpy”.
Kerridge added: “If [consumers] taking the family out for a sneaky pizza on a Tuesday night, and it's normally £100, if the price suddenly went to exactly the same as [businesses are] getting quoted for their energy, your pizza family night out is now £600 or £700, it's just not viable.
“If you're buying a £5 pint of beer, but then come December it’s £35, how often are you going to go out?”
