Managers of several Bristol pubs and restaurants have expressed concern for the future over the looming rise in energy bills. The astronomical rise is a concern for all of us, but many businesses around the country are facing having to raise prices, or even close.
Small business owners are experiencing sleepless nights and fears they will not survive the winter due to looming increases in their energy bills. Data from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows firms have experienced a 424 per cent rise in gas costs and 349 per cent increase in electricity since February 2021.
In the Wirral, award winning pub The Rose and Crown took to Twitter to show their forecast bill increase to £61,000 a year. and they are calling on the government to come up with a plan to ease the financial pain. In Bristol traders told us they also thought something needed to be done urgently in order to save numerous hospitality businesses.
READ MORE: DWP protecting people on benefits from energy bill rise
Thousands of traders are looking to renegotiate electricity and gas contracts that expire in October as two-year fixed-price supply deals come to an end. Unlike domestic consunmers companies do not have a cap on their energy bills.
In Bristol business was booming when Bristol Live rang several pubs to chat about the situation today, (Sunday, August 28) Most staff were busy provIding Sunday lunch - but some took a quick break to share their views.
Simon Calcraft, manager at the popular Brewhouse and Kitchen in Redland, said: "We are a small company and all my energy prices are arranged externally by head office. We have a bit more buying power but it is a big concern.
"We are having to drop staff hours down and trying to run on skeleton crews. Our bills have gone up a lot, a few hundred pounds a week, and it is only going to get worse. They need to come up with a solution to this, such as tax breaks or price freezes."
The Green House on College Green was also busy with lunchtime customers. Deputy manager Filip Mezak shared his view on the energy crisis.
He told Bristol Live: "There's not much we can do, it is out of our control. Prices are going to go up and we have no bill projections as of yet.
"We are looking into all possible options to cut costs, such as having timers installed. At the moment we can't really do much about it."
Mr Mezak said someone needs to research what the actual price of gas is, rather than projections. He said increases in bills need to be gradual.
John at the Mall in Clifton Village said: "It is crazy, some people are going to be in trouble. It is concerning, it is scary and they need to focus on it."
Small firms in the UK have raised the alarm over the risk posed to their future. They include:
* A hotel in Aberdeen which says it will be cheaper to close for the winter than heat rooms for guests.
* A fish and chip shop in Oswestry, Shropshire, where annual energy bills are rising from £9,000 to £35,000.
* A chicken takeaway franchisee in Peterborough who fears customers will desert him if he pushes up prices to pay his bills.
* An indoor mushroom farm in Bangor, Gwynedd, whose strong trading has been undermined by a “ridiculous” hike in its energy costs.
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