Almost a third of cafes, restaurants and hotels have been forced to reduce their opening hours due to rising energy prices, it has been found.
Official figures show tens of thousands of hospitality firms are trying to save on their electricity and gas bills by shutting early.
A survey of companies offering either accommodation or food revealed 18.5% had cut their trading hours since the summer.
A further 6.2% had reduced the days they are open by one day, while 5.2% said they were shutting two or more days extra.
The closures are particularly worrying as hospitality firms are in the middle of their “golden quarter”, usually the best trading period of the year in the run-up to Christmas.
Labour has accused ministers of leaving businesses in the lurch by failing to explain what help they will receive with their energy bills next year.
A current scheme for companies to cap the wholesale costs of gas and electricity is set to end after March 31, although prices are likely to remain high for some time.
Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “Not content with 12 years of economic failure, the Conservatives have crashed the economy and businesses are being left to pay the price.
“The revolving door of ministers has left hospitality firms in the lurch for months, with no idea what their energy bills will be in 2023.
“Hospitality firms having to reduce their hours in their most profitable season is testament of Government failure to tackle the cost of doing business crisis.
“Labour would have cut business rates for small hospitality firms, saving the average pub £2,600 this year.”
Many restaurants and cafes are struggling to survive as they battle with higher prices for food and drinks at the same time as soaring energy bills.
Hospitality businesses across the country have also been finding it difficult to recruit staff because of labour shortages.
Overall inflation - the rate at which prices rise - eased slightly last month but the cost of living is still rising at its fastest pace in 40 years.
Prices increased by 10.7% in the year to November, compared with 11.1% in October.
The Office of National Statistics interviewed 848 accommodation and food service businesses between October 17 and 31.
