A Crossgar café owner has revealed how he is opening extra hours to try and work around rising business costs.
Hugh Bell has been running the popular Café Q in the Co Down village since 2007, moving into their current bigger premises in 2016.
The business celebrated its 16th birthday earlier this week and Hugh said he was grateful that their customers had stuck with them through thick and thin.
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The café is staying open about eight extra hours each week as part of its new plans.
"I can stay open for the extra hour and my rent stays the same, so I just have to reorganise my staff and try and get that extra wee bit of income that would help cover me," he said.
"It's just growing increasingly hard to try and survive in this climate.
"My electricity this time a year and a half ago, was a third of what it is now - it's actually three times more expensive.
"My electric bill used to be £400 a month and it's now £1300 a month and that's probably the biggest increase, but we're still managing to find a way to get it paid each month and that's due to our customers."
It's not the only cost that has gone up in running the business, but Hugh said he was keen to avoid his customers feeling that in the menu prices.
"I would say the food costs have all doubled in the last year," Hugh added.
"Suppliers and power suppliers can put their prices up 100% but I can't, as that then affects my customers obviously and I can't live without them.
"It's hard when you're working on the floor level with the customer because you don't want to relay those costs onto them.
"We've only increased our prices twice since the pandemic and they've both been less than 10% increases.
"That's a show of respect to out customers because we have a massive and very loyal customer base, they've kept us afloat since the pandemic and we really do appreciate it."
The business-owner has sought different ways to try and bring in extra revenue to the café.
"We run restaurant evenings where we'll do a wee special menu - for instance, April will be a French-themed night and we do afternoon teas and that," he said.
"We have a good catchment area, we get customers from Killylea, Downpatrick, Saintfield, Ballynahinch and Carryduff so we're blessed that way."
"I am really grateful to our loyal customers so I don't want to sound too negative about it."
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