Last orders: Bars and restaurants ‘priced out of existence’ in the last four years
A typical question put to the other half of a Saturday evening: “Where will we have dinner tonight?” Except, the options are dwindling… Soon it may be “Where is left for us to have dinner tonight?”
To name a few, Clenaghans, The Alchemy, The Apple Patch, Flamin’ Grill, Café Chloe, The Velveteen Rabbit and Bistro 47 have all cited rising costs and an inability to sustain profit margins as their reasons for closure since the pandemic took full effect in 2020.
Others are clinging to life hoping to see it through to the other side – and they have been vocal too.
Related: Craigavon restaurant shares staggering £71,000 rates bill
Since the pandemic, costs have continued to climb and with little intervention coming from government – many favourite food and beverage businesses have seen no alternative but to close their doors.
Perhaps this is a pandemic of a different kind?
A recent meeting in Belfast hosted by Hospitality Ulster, trade bodies representing hospitality businesses across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have called on suppliers and government to help their hospitality businesses before it is too late.
Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, Colin Neill said: “At what point do Governments actually start to realise the pressure that the hospitality sector is under here?”
“We are seeing in the media that there is a steady stream of establishments going to the wall each week, restaurants and pubs that have been in business for years are being lost.
“We all see it, they must too. The pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and ever shifting consumer trends have all had their individual impacts, yet the approach government has towards taxing the sector hasn’t moved with the new realities.”
Colin – like many others – believes that immediate government intervention is needed.
He added: “It’s long overdue that the entire taxation system around the hospitality sector is reviewed – VAT, Rates and Employer costs must be reduced – these are all within the control of the government.
“We are constantly forced to fight fires every single day, which leaves no time at all to look to the future of the sector. The odds seem to be stacked against us, and we must ask, to what end?
“If the greedy government tax us out of existence, then they won’t have the benefits of what we know was once a vibrant sector ever again. We can see and feel that customers are now at the ceiling of what they can afford with their own disposable incomes as households continue to scale back.”
What’s the answer? Reduce rates, cap VAT or subsidies? Have your say in our poll…
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