Energy crisis: hospitality struggling to survive

A dramatic increase in energy bills may force some hospitality businesses to close.

The UK Government is being called upon to use their powers to intervene and help business owners through this difficult period.

The new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, has indicated that she would offer help with the energy and cost of living crisis once elected.

One business owner said they had decided to temporarily close some of their hotels and restaurants due to rising energy costs. Pubs across the UK are facing energy rises as much as 300%, with one business owner seeing an increase from £13,000 to £35,000.

A brewery and bar owner said their business faces "huge costs that are out of our control." Energy costs joined with the pandemic, Brexit, higher supply costs, and staffing problems are causing UK businesses to struggle.

Households are also being forced to make difficult decisions on how they spend their money as their own bills are also soaring, causing bookings and trade to be slower than usual.

Currently, UK businesses aren't protected by a price cap and could face harsher rises than households. A Vegetarian Food Studio owner said "the way things are going, we are going to lose our business that we have worked for 17 years so hard to build."

Article by BBC News