Energy costs force seaside pub to close
This comes after The Morning Advertiser revealed nearly three quarters of pubs were unlikely to survive the winter without Government help. BrewDog has closed six bars to cope with rocketing energy costs, and the Railway Inn, Rodley, Leeds has also shut its kitchen.
The venue, which shut its doors yesterday (12 September), posted on its social media: “We’re very sorry to have to announce the closure of the Brighton Beer Dispensary.
“With the rise of electricity bills, Brexit nonsense and other issues, we just can’t see ourselves surviving.”
Government help
The spokesperson wanted to thank everyone who had supported them over the years. “We wish you well,” they concluded.
Prime Minister Liz Truss announced she would freeze energy costs for businesses as well as households last Thursday (8 September), as new research from AskGamblers.com revealed 1.5m web users were looking into energy bill strikes in August.
The new six-month scheme for businesses is intended to provide ongoing focused support for vulnerable industries like hospitality.
Half measure plan
While trade bodies have welcomed the news, they have also called for more specified help. UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “Measures need to provide a swift cash injection, such as cutting VAT for the sector to 10% and providing business rates relief.
“While the welcome energy price freeze will ease the pressure on our customers and colleagues, high bills will still constrain spending in the sector and operators will still have to fund energy bills and other rising costs.
“For many hospitality businesses, this will prove too much to bear and hundreds of community assets will be shut and jobs lost unless additional support is brisk and bold.”
What’s more, the Night-Time Industries Association slammed the announcement as a “half measure package” and expressed concerns about the lack of “considerable detail to alleviate current business concerns”.
