A third of UK pubs and restaurants are cutting back hours to save on energy bills | economy

A third of British pubs and restaurants have reduced their opening hours in the past three months to curb rising energy costs, according to the Office for National Statistics, with 7% cutting one day a week and 21% cutting opening hours, but no figures. on the days they are open, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Monday.

Shortening opening hours is more common in this area than in other sectors of the British economy, with only 7% of businesses reporting this due to rising energy bills following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The British government announced temporary energy subsidies for businesses in September, but the ONS said it led to little change in rates for hospitality firms. Bankruptcy early next year due to rising energy and other bills and reduced consumer spending. Hiring employees remains a challenge, the company added.

However, according to ONS research for the World Cup in Qatar, many food and drink businesses plan to stay open in November. Wetherspoon, which operates almost 900 pubs in the UK, said last week it was “cautiously optimistic” about its forecasts. The recent recession. (Reported by Muwija M)