Brewery and pub chain bosses have warned that sky-high energy bills could force some venues to shut this year. Small businesses are facing a crisis with soaring energy prices driving up operating costs and making it impossible to register a profit.
Andrew Turner, chief operating officer of Cornwall's St Austell Brewery, said: “Unlike consumers, there is no energy price cap for small businesses therefore we are seeing spiralling costs for our tenants, pubs, and breweries. It is totally wiping out the profits they are making, which questions why on earth they would want to open their doors going forward.”
Mr Turner said that he had heard from one tenant who saw their energy bills increase by more than 400 per cent last week. Runaway energy price rises are threatening the future of many outlets without any small business alternative to the consumer price cap.
