A popular Co Derry tearoom is having to shut its doors after receiving an electricity bill of over £4,000.
The Rainbow Tearoom in Feeny, which was launched by baker Aideen O'Neill during the Covid pandemic has become a popular social hub for those living in the area, providing them with an outlet that they never had before.
However, due to the cost of living crisis it will be closing its doors on Saturday, August 27, as it will no longer be financially viable to remain open.
Read more: West Belfast cafe owner struggling to keep doors open as energy bills continue to rise
Speaking to Belfast Live, Aideen said that she is devastated that she has had to close the tearoom because of the impact that it has had on the local community but cannot see a way to go forward and fears the entire hospitality industry in Northern Ireland is on the edge of a major crisis.
She said: "We opened the tearoom during the Covid pandemic and firmly believed that if we were able to make it through that, then we could get through anything that we might face. We never imagined that something like this would come at the end of it all.
"Normally we would have a quarterly energy bill of around £1,200, with this recently rising to £1,600. However we were told that our next bill was likely to be £4,000 to £4,500 based on our consumption which we simply cannot afford.
"Prior to this we had been on a fixed term contract, which we were due to renew, but in the past few weeks this offer has been withdrawn from us and we have been quoted that we would be due to pay between £8,500 and £9,000 for another three months.
"Since we announced that we are going to be closing we have had an overwhelming response from not just people in Feeny, but the wider community here in Co Derry who have been vital to our success so far and we have had people offering all kinds of help and support, but realistically there is nothing that can be done without intervention from the Government.
"We cannot justify raising our prices because then we would only be hurting our customers who will need that money to make sure their families will have food at home, never mind treating themselves to going out. Gofundme schemes have also been suggested but that would only be a very short term solution and I don't think it is right to be asking others for help when they could be in a very tough position themselves in a matter of months."
Aideen said that customers would need to spend around £20 a head and for the business to be as busy as a good Saturday in order for it to remain open due to the rising costs, highlighting that it is not just energy prices that are rising, but food and transport costs have also doubled since the start of the year.
She said that she is dismayed by the Northern Ireland government, which she feels is "abandoning people while they take a paycheck" and called for urgent support for the hospitality industry before "small businesses across the country are forced to close".
Aideen continued: "I have spoken with other businesses and there are many who are already in my position and others who know they will be in just a few months' time as costs continue to rise.
"If something is not done soon to support the hospitality industry we will only be left with large chain companies because small businesses that communities rely on won't be able to remain open.
"It is a disgrace that we have MLAs refusing to form a government here and provide support to people who need it, but have no problem taking their paychecks. In the coming months people are going to be really struggling and under pressure just to put food on their tables and heat their homes and those who want to help can't do anything.
"The hospitality industry is on the edge of a major crisis and I do not see how anywhere will be able to afford the bills that are predicted to come in the new year."
Despite the blow of having to close the Rainbow Tearoom, Aideen says that she will continue her cake business from home and hopes that her success will provide inspiration for others in her community.
She said: "When we first opened we were not sure that a tearoom like this could succeed in a place like Feeny and the success we have had since we have opened has exceeded all of our expectations.
"We have had groups for pensioners and young people working from here and it has become a meeting spot for people all over the area. There are times customers have come in for a cup of tea and a traybake and stayed for three hours because of the amount of old friends they have met coming through the door.
"It is very sad that we are unable to continue, but we hope that when things settle someone else will be able to follow in our footsteps and set up something of their own now that we have shown the impact that a tearoom can have in bringing a community together."
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