Punters are being urged to warm themselves in their local bar this winter as publicans fear 40% of pub lovers could stay at home to save on energy costs.
The Irish Mirror revealed this week how four-in-10 regular pub-goers told a survey that they will reduce their nights out amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Some pub bosses fear a “ferocious winter” and have responded to the poll by reminding us that it was not long ago when we could not gather in pubs at all.
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Tipperary publican TJ McInerney, who appealed on TV in 2020 for Taosieach Micheal Martin to reopen pubs, yesterday vowed “doom and gloom can’t win”.
He said: “Costs are going up – but we all need some positivity. My regulars can avail of my central heating, no problem.”
Other publicans claimed that reduced football is “inevitable” due to soaring costs for both businesses and customers – and they have called for help from the Government in the Budget.
Some warned that throngs of pubs will struggle to “keep on the lights” and said it is time to “batten down the hatches” and hope to survive a long, dark winter.
TJ McInerney of the award-winning TJ Mac’s bar in Mullinahone pledged to help punters absorb energy costs by turning up the thermostat so they can stay warm.
He said they can then go to their beds in good spirits after an evening of watching sport on TV with their pals in their local boozer.
TJ, whose pub was recently named Best Local Pub in the South-West Region,
told the Irish Mirror/ Star: “No-one can go out multiple times a week these days because of the cost-of-living crisis, that’s for sure.
“It feels at times like the cost of everything is going up with fuel and heating, so people are worried about their heating and putting on their Christmas lights.
“I definitely want to see my regulars whenever they can. They can come in here and use TJ’s central heating to help them save money on their energy bills.
“And they can go to bed in good form after watching the sport with their friends.
“It can’t be all doom and gloom. We can’t let it. It wasn’t long ago that we weren’t allowed to be in the pub together at all.”
Former VFI president Gerry Mellett of the Ardattin Inn at Ardattin in Co Carlow last year likened the Covid-19 restrictions to World War Three.
He yesterday told the Irish Mirror/ Star: “I’m afraid it’s inevitable that people are going to stay away and that some pubs will close and not open again.
“Everyone’s costs are going through the roof. My last ESB bill went up to €3,800 from €1,600 before that.
“It is not sustainable. Every single thing is going up in price. We are feeling it in our businesses and our customers are feeling it in their own lives.
“The leisure industry used to say that people could spend 90c out of every Euro in a pub, but that was down to 30c last year, and it’s around 10c now.
“As well as pubs closing, I can see cafes and restaurants shutting as well.
“Businesses have to heat their premises and households have to heat their homes and none of us is immune to world events.
“It is inevitable that the leisure trade will be hit and people are already battening down the hatches.
“The weekday trade is quiet and many will not survive this winter and a lot of us are worried. This winter is going to be ferocious.”
Top Cork publican Michael O'Donovan, who is the city’s Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) chairperson, said: “We had meetings last week about the predictions that 40% of people might stay away.
“Publicans said that it is not happening yet, but we are concerned about it.
“Energy costs and the increased prices for things is the main topic of conversation over the counter.”
The Castle Inn owner added: “People have less money to spend and no costs are coming down, but a lot are going up.”
Current VFI president Paul Moynihan of family pub Moynihan’s in Donard, Co Wicklow, said: “This is a very worrying survey.
“It is the culmination of our own costs going up and the public’s expenses going the wrong way.
“Our staff and their families are all affected and we see rural pubs being affected quicker than the cities for reduced footfall.
“It cost 14c per kilowatt of electricity this time last year, but it’s 64c now, which is a 357% increase.
“People who had energy bills of €800 are now paying €2,500. I know a publican who got an electricity bill for €6,500.
“That is astronomical and we need help from the Government in the Budget.
“We have survived this far and now we need more assistance to get us through this winter.
“It is very tough and it is very worrying. We are going to have to try to ride out the storm.”
A Cost of Living Consumer Pulse Survey, which was carried out last month when Curren Goodden Associates quizzed “1,000 adults who typically visit a hospitality venue every six months”, was published on Monday past.
It found that 42% of Irish adults plan to reduce trips to the pub and other hospitality venues between now and New Year’s Eve.
The VFI, which represents 4,000 publicans across the country, warned: “Unless substantial supports are announced in Budget 2023, pubs will go dark this winter.”
An estimated 349 pubs closed during Ireland’s several lockdowns and there are now 6,788 pubs in Ireland, a loss of 1,829 pubs since 2005.
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