The past few years have been a difficult time for pubs, cafes and restaurants across the city centre. Just as doors reopened to the public and things began to return to normal, after the various Covid restrictions, the cost of living and energy crisis started to bite.
There has never been a better time to support independent pubs and restaurants if you are able. As many are struggling amid huge rises in operating costs, with many having predicted a difficult post-Christmas comedown.
A postcode tracker from the BBC has documented changes to high streets across the UK. It records the growth or decrease in different sectors including food, drink, retail and pubs. All you need to do to check your area is to pop your postcode in and you can check the surrounding high streets.
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We aren't short of a boozer or two in the city centre and the same can be said for restaurants. Nottingham is full of great places to visit no matter what you are looking for, from pints to Sunday roasts to vegan options.
In post-lockdown life, it should come as no surprise that there was an increase of 2 percent when it comes to eating and drinking venues in the city centre. In March 2020, there were 111 eating and drinking businesses but there were two more in March 2022, figures have shown.
Certain parts of the food sector struggled, however, with quite a few fish and chip shops closing especially as the operational bills increased. The data revealed that 1.8 percent of chippies closed in the city centre although there was a 4.7 percent increase across the East Midlands as a whole. Other takeaway options increased by 7.2 percent with restaurant/takeaway Wingstop, for example, opening on Trinity Square.
Other recent restaurant and takeaway openings include Popeyes Chicken on Upper Parliament Street, Frankster on Alfreton Road, and Veggie Masters in Lenton. But there were some notable closures in the last 12 months, including Brexit Burger, on Alfreton Road.
There was a decrease in cafes this year by 4 percent - although the city gained a few new locations such as Hungry Ghost in Cobden Chambers. Punch Coffee also opened on Mansfield Road in the summer along with Barista Lab on Bridlesmith Gate.
Hungry Ghost Cafe owner Holly Nowak says, while there have been cafe closures, there has also been a mix of new independent and other brands opening. However, the coming year is expected to be a struggle when it comes to maintaining footfall.
"There have been a lot of closures over the two years but I feel there has been a bit of a comeback since Covid. The small independent places have struggled over closures between having to have people outside or spaced out makes it hard to exist. In the last year, I feel like there has been a little boom of new things opening again," she said.
"My concern now is whether or not that can be sustained. With the financial forecast (for the next 12 months), the thought of it is intimidating but I went to a talk from Holly Tucker, the founder of It's Not On The High Street, and she said there was £90 million spent in the UK last Christmas."
She added: "That's what they have estimated again for this year even with everything that's going on. People's attitudes have shifted on where they want to put their money. I don't think we will see the impact of the economic crisis until probably January or February. That's going to be a tricky time and we will see how much of an impact it's going to have."
"I feel like it's been the opposite where I've seen more opening rather than closing. There are definitely more open rather than closed," said Wanch Webb, barista at Barista Lab on Bridlesmith Gate.
Dave Damms, a supervisor at Blend in the Contemporary, said that there have been closures predominately with independent venues. He feels that there is a lack of support from the government and that this will continue into the new year.
"There have definitely been more closures in the independent side of things, especially in the past two months. We've had two independents close in the past two months and people will really miss them. The chains are surviving and doing well but it's the smaller ones that need the help a little bit more," he said.
"I think it's going to continue this year as it doesn't feel like things are getting better. Whenever you hear interviews with the government, it feels like the issues are not being listened to or even acknowledged at all."
Restaurants were one of the biggest increases over the past two years with 13 percent more in 2022 than in 2020. This can be seen across the city centre with new businesses such as Rosa's Thai on King Street, Wonder Pho on Thurland Street, Pho in Hockley and also Bink's Yard in Sneinton to name a few.
Pubs and bars also increased by a strong 4 percent as many opened over the past year to customers grateful for a chance to be back out socialising again. Some of the pubs that opened included The Mist Rolling Inn on Derby Road, The Blind Rabbit on Weekday Cross and Boca Lima in Hockley.
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