A Belfast restaurant has revealed that his energy bills have rocketed from £31,000 a year to £9,500 in just one month.
Bob McCoubrey, who runs Mourne Seafood Bar, on Bank Square in the city centre as well as a number of other businesses, has said that while he will survive, many others in the industry will not.
Hospitality Ulster has warned that the industry is in crisis with the cost of "crippling businesses and will result in more closures and job losses". It is calling for more help with energy costs, a VAT cut and an immediate rates holiday.
