The cost of living crisis continues to impact all of us. Energy bills are higher, petrol is more expensive and food and day-to-day necessities cost much more than a few years ago, or even a few months ago.
And it's not just individuals and families that are struggling - it's businesses too. Sadly this year we've already seen the closure of many amazing community facilities, pubs, restaurants and other popular local businesses as business-owners and managers have grappled with bill and bill and increase after increase.
While it's hoped the situation will improve, currently two-thirds of adults are worried about being able to afford Christmas dinner. In a recent survey, half of the respondents said they'd purchased electrical items they knew wouldn't last as long as higher quality products, but were cheaper than the better quality alternatives - so it seems we're in for a bumpy ride for a while longer.
Read more: Money expert's advice on challenging high energy direct debit payments
Over the last few months, we've sadly seen the closure of several popular pubs, community centres, cafes and independent shops, whilst some others have stripped back their services, or changed their opening hours, in an attempt to save money.
Here's our round-up of the Welsh businesses and facilities forced to close because of rising costs. If there are any we have missed contact molly.dowrick@reachplc.com
The cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and venues that have closed down
Y Ranch bar, Bangor
A popular bar in Bangor closed in November, after debts and energy bills became too high to handle. As reported by our sister site NorthWalesLive, Y Ranch in the centre of Bangor was already facing financial issues before the cost of living crisis - but rising bills has only exacerbated the problems.
Business owner, Mark Chenery said: "Sadly, the situation is only likely to get worse. The problem is stemmed much further back than just the energy crisis. Hospitality as a whole is still very much in the recovery mode from months of lockdown.
"First to be locked down and last to reopen, all the while generating debts to energy complains, HMRC, PAYE etc. All the above now expect venues to not only pay the current liabilities but also the the debts built up while we were forced to close, unable to sell alcohol. Unlike supermarkets that were 'essential', un-policed and serving alcohol throughout.
"Coupled with the extremely high business rates that the high street command, a Bangor BID payment for 'hanging baskets' etc businesses on the high street stand little chance. I do believe that if something isn’t addressed soon , public house numbers will dwindle and local businesses will fold."
Eartha cafe and plant shop, Cardiff
Quaint café and plant shop 'Eartha' on City Road in Cardiff announced its imminent closure in June, eventually closing its doors a month later. The café and shop had been trading for almost five years but increased bills led to the business owners deciding they'd have to close.
Explaining why Eartha had to close, a member of staff from the store wrote on its Instagram page: "It was a difficult decision to make but due to the impact of the pandemic in combination with recent price hikes we have sadly decided to call it a day."
Premiere Cinema, Cardiff
An adored independent cinema in Cardiff city centre announced its sudden closure on October 17. The venue, which opened in the Capitol shopping centre in 2015, was popular among moviegoers of all ages and offered screenings of the latest films with all general admission tickets priced at just £4. It also hosted special events, with the opening night of the Iris Prize, the world's largest LGBT+ short film competition, held at the cinema just days before its closure was announced.
Management have not confirmed the exact reasons why the cinema has had to close - but have referred to the "hard times" experienced in the leisure industry, whilst its well known that cinemas were forced to close for months on-end during the Covid pandemic.
In a statement announcing the cinema's closure, staff said: "It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the untimely closure of Premiere Cinema, effective on the 17th of October 2022. We'd like to take this time to personally thank each and every one of you for coming to visit our independent cinema and watching films with us.
"Thank you to the loyal customers who continuously supported us during the industry’s hard times. We hope you all have a good memory here with us, because seeing you leave with smiles on your faces is what made us who we are. Thank you to our brilliant team of staff, who will never be strangers because of Premiere. Not many people have the opportunity to come to work and genuinely love what they do, but all of you lovely customers made that possible for us. It’s been one hell of a ride and we’re glad to have shared it with you. Please look after yourselves and we'll see you around!"
La Creme Patisserie, Llandaff
The Cardiff branch of La Creme Patisserie closed on November 12 and relocated to Cwmbran, due to rising costs. "The decision hasn't been taken lightly, but it's the right move for us," the company said in a Facebook post announcing the closure. "After over a year of trading, the world has changed. Costs are skyrocketing with ingredients and electricity rising astronomically. We signed for the shop while the world was still staying inside with Covid.
"Our business is not closing. We still supply venues across the country, from Buckingham Palace to the Celtic Manor. We still have our shops in Baglan, Abergavenny and now Cwmbran town centre."
Cakes and Ale bar and cafe, Mumbles
Locals were shocked when popular bar and cafe 'Cakes and Ale' close d its doors after three years of trading. Management cited "rising costs in challenging times" as the key reason for the business' closure.
As soon as it opened in August, 2019, the business became a go-to place for many local residents and visitors to Mumbles, who liked the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere and the wide variety of drinks available. During the pandemic, the business offered "take away pints" which were popular with local people out for a socially-distanced walk with friends - but management soon said the hospitality industry was taking a "bashing" by pandemic restrictions.
The decision to close came just weeks after the business expanded, taking on a second unit on Newton Road and launching a fish 'n chip shop, aptly named 'Fishcakes and Ale'.
Confirming Cakes & Ale had ceased trading earlier this year, owner Laurence Winmill said: "We're really grateful for the support we received from the wonderful people of Mumbles and beyond since we opened back in August, 2019. Unfortunately, for reasons we are all familiar with, trading conditions over the past two years have been extremely difficult, and, sadly, rising costs in challenging times have made it impossible to make the business work, despite every effort.
"It's with a very heavy heart that we have had to take the decision to close our doors here at Cakes & Ale. We are really sorry to say goodbye. We threw everything at it and loved being a part of your days and evenings - thank you for joining us.."
Pippins Cafe, Mumbles
A much-loved cafe in the heart of Mumbles has closed its doors after almost five years of trading. Pippins, on Newton Road, was one of just a handful of dog-friendly cafes in the area and was well-known locally for its delicious cakes and for being a cosy and inviting place to spend time to enjoy a coffee or lunch with friends and family.
Unfortunately, rising cost of living, bills and the financial repercussions of water damage some years ago led to owner Pippa Stone, 50, and her management team having to shut up shop on November 26.
Explaining the reasoning behind the cafe's closure, the manager of Pippins said: "Payments just shot up, from our cakes to our kitchen supplies. It's just practically doubling in price. It's hang on since Covid. We had water damage and everything, then we missed the entirety of the 'Eat Out to Help Out' and we just had no support whatsoever from that. So we've just been kind of spiralling a bit - but we've tried to bring it back. If we actually had some help, we would have had a better chance."
She added that having a number of building issues resulted in a "chain reaction of everything and then the price rises have just added."
Owner of Pippins, Pippa Stone said closing her businesses was a "devastating" decision she's had to make. "We were doing okay, obviously, then Covid came along and then everyone was in trouble. It is devastating because I know that people use it as a hub," she said. "We have a lot of the elderly coming here because, you know, they just want someone to talk to, everyone comes in, they all know each other. We feed a few of them for free, that can't afford it every day, things like that. It's going to be a big loss."
She added: "[In] Mumbles, you need a lot of money behind you to succeed and I'm not [wealthy], I'm just a normal girl. I don't have a lot of money behind me it was just my little dream to do something for the community and we did it. I'm finding now, coming into winter, a lot of our regulars that are on their own are not going to come out. They won't come out the houses. Some of them have been coming here [and the Coffee Den, the coffee shop there before Pippins] for like 19/20 years. It's really just so sad."
The Secret Garden Café, Newport
Locals were heartbroken when a popular independent café closed after 12 years. The Secret Garden Cafe in Newport is no longer open in the daytime due to rising energy and wholesale food prices, as well as family reasons.
Owner Michelle 'Shell' Smith told us previously that the energy bills recently hit £700 a month for her small business, and some wholesale prices have tripled. Business has been "really tough" since Covid, Shell added. When the pandemic forced the café to shut, she renovated the garden with a new roof and flooring with the help of a government grant. "We were really excited to start back up again. I hated being at home."
But the Secret Garden reopened to a world of remote working, getting a fraction of its old trade from city-centre office workers. Her partner Phil got another job full-time and Shell ran the café alone, albeit with a couple of part-time staff. Her father Danny died last November and her mother Sandra in August. "I couldn't really take time off to grieve," Shell said. "I took a day off and had to be work the next day, because I was so concerned about the costs and paying everything.
"The energy crisis is the cherry on the cake. It's a series of things, and there's only so much a person can take. It's gone up from £300 to £700 a month for energy, and the price of cooking oil has tripled. Food prices across the board have more than doubled. I look at our supplier and the prices change from week to week."
The Sportsman's Rest pub, Peterston-super-Ely
The landlords of a beloved village pub which survived Covid and multiple floods have decided to retire after 18 years running the business, citing the end of their lease on the premises and rocketing energy and other bills.
Over the last three years, the pub has flooded several times after heavy rainfall; but the hardworking landlords, staff and kind members of the community have cleared the mess and helped restore the pub each time. Sadly, the landlords confirmed last month that "escalating energy bills" was the final nail in the coffin and they'd had to close The Sportsman's Rest pub.
Taking to Facebook to announce the news, landlord Huw Jones thanked customers and staff and wrote: "As many of you may be aware after 18 years at the Sportsman's Rest our lease has come to an end and due to the escalating energy bills and overheads etc we have decided not to renew the lease but to retire and call it a day. It will be an end of an era for us and also the village.
"Sandra, Sam, all the staff, and myself will miss you all dearly I'm sure. Thank you all for the fantastic and generous support you have given us over the years and the help with mopping up after the numerous floods and keeping the pub going through takeaway meals during Covid-19 lockdowns."
WalesOnline understands new tenants are currently being sought for the business. More here .
The big shops and community facilities that have closed down
Age Cymru Community Centre, Port Talbot
A well-used community centre in Port Talbot permanently closed in October, 2022 after collapsing under the strain of spiralling energy costs and challenges brought by the pandemic. Age Cymru West Glamorgan said it had been left with "no choice" but to close the Afan Nedd Centre and instead prioritise "essential" services such as Age Cymru's advice and telephone service.
The Afan Nedd Centre has been praised locally for offering friendship and support for older people in Port Talbot for more than 20 years, and housed lunchtime clubs, befriending events and a space for local community groups, whilst during the pandemic, the centre's kitchens were used by Age Cymru West Glamorgan staff and volunteers to cook and arrange delivery of thousands of meals for people who were struggling to access food at the time.
At the time of the centre's closure, chief executive of Age Cymru West Glamorgan, Connor James said: " It is heart-breaking to announce the closure of the Afan Nedd Centre which has been used for decades to provide vital services to older people in the area. We have tried desperately hard since the pandemic to secure funding to keep the centre open, but sadly we have run out of time and options.
We recognise that the centre is well-loved and appreciated by many in the local community, so it is with deep regret that our board of trustees has taken this difficult decision.
To put it simply, we are struggling. We have never had so much demand and so little funding. The pandemic, energy and cost-of-living crisis have, and are still, presenting massive challenges. Unfortunately, a 600% rise in utility costs would mean having to find an extra £18,000 a year just for the Centre’s gas and electricity, we’ve been left with very little choice." You can read more on Mr James' statement here.
Run and Become running shop, Cardiff
Independent business Run and Become welcomed customers through its doors in Cardiff almost every day for 22 years - until its shock closure in July. The business first ran a shop in Wood Street and then moved to St Mary Street and was well-known locally for its wide range of products and friendly staff.
Managing director and co-owner of the business, which still has a shop in London, Shankara Smith said there were "a number of reasons" for the business' closure including the manager of 22 years stepping down, the financial impact of lockdowns - though she did say Cardiff Council had helped with this - and increased business rates.
"Closure was a sad decision but also the right one for us at this time. We loved our time in Cardiff (we first opened on Wood Street in 2000)," she said. " Rent and particularly rates - even after the financial crises of 2009 reduced the former - have always struck me as on the high side for the opportunities Cardiff City centre offer and that meant we always had to watch things carefully to stay in the black. If I was asked what one change could have seen us keep our shop it would be a radical overhaul of the rates system." You can read the full story of Run and Become's closure in a previous article here.
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