Pubs and restaurants could cut opening hours to survive ‘perfect storm’ this year

Businesses considering cutting capacity by up to 20 per cent, hospitality chief warns

Chains secure the doors of a closed pub in London (PA Archive)

Pubs and restaurants are being forced to consider reducing opening hours to weather a “perfect storm” of soaring bills and cash-strapped customers cutting their spending this year.

The hospitality sector is expected to continue struggling after facing a barrage of challenges in 2022 including soaring energy bills, staff shortages and rising inflation. And rail strikes during peak periods have reportedly already cost the industry at least £1.5bn in December.

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “Hospitality businesses are facing an ever-growing list of challenges, whether that is soaring energy costs, continued staffing challenges, dampening consumer confidence, or the ongoing impact of rail strikes.