A Cardiff pub has resorted to using candles and Christmas decorations instead of turning on the lights after a hike in energy bill costs. The Railway Hotel in Llandaff North has returned to more traditional methods of keeping the building lit up to try and save money during the cost of living crisis - and has received a welcome response from customers.
Samantha Birks, who runs the Station Road pub with Ian Liddle, says they made the change away from overhead lights at the start of the month after being "railroaded" into signing a new more expensive electricity contract in September. They have also been forced to turn off the outside lights, which the 39-year-old worries will affect trade - although they have kept the Christmas trees and lights on in the windows to entice people in.
Instead of paying a day rate of 16.5p KWh and night rate of 11.6p/kWh, Samantha says the best price her energy company could offer her was 51p per kilowatt day and night, with no other companies taking on new customers. Even taking into account the government's Energy Bill Relief Scheme for business support, it leaves her with a cost of 21p/kWh until it runs out in March 31, 2023, the Cardiffian reports.
