A LANDLORD has been forced to call time on his beloved pub after his energy bills TRIPLED.
Simon Cromack said he was left with no choice but to shut the award-winning Baskerville pub in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
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The landlord’s energy bill had trebled in the cost of living crisis and suppliers pushed their prices up two or three times in a year.
Simon also said the rent on the pub had increased by four per cent and a staff shortage meant the kitchen was unable to open.
He revealed the “gut-wrenching” decision to his loyal punters on social media.
The landlord said: “It is with huge sadness that I have had no option but to call it a day.
“Over the past couple of weeks in particular we have struggled hugely to staff our kitchen as well as having a few shortages in front of house and no housekeeping.
“However, this has really only been the tip of the iceberg.
“The combination of huge operating costs never before seen in hospitality, alongside a very significant downturn in business, has set us on this path.
“Our energy costs have now surpassed three times what they were since our last full year’s trading accounts in 2019, pre the coronavirus pandemic.
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“We did all we could to lock ourselves into the best of the terrible energy deals available but our hands were tied.
“Overall, we have seen the majority of our suppliers’ prices increase twice this year and in some cases three times.”
The business caterer, who took over the pub two years ago after his parents moved to Spain, went on to explain the hospitality industry has seen “unprecedented hikes”.
He said he considered all options – including upping the price of food and drink – but said this would be “untenable” for his customers.
Simon added: “Perhaps for some households fortunate enough to have sufficient disposable income it would have been acceptable but from the trading footfalls we have seen and the average spends, I believe this was the right decision.”
The Baskerville won pub of the year in the Visit England Awards for Excellence in 2020.
It was also awarded an AA rosette in 2021 and featured in the AA Restaurant Guide 2022.
The pub is the latest to fall victim to the spiralling cost of energy bills.
Hospitality chiefs warned last week more will be forced to close their doors unless they get “immediate” help with costs.
Unlike households, there’s currently no cap on gas and electricity prices for businesses.
Some boozers are now trying to recoup costs by charging up to 13 per cent more for some drinks.
But seven in ten could close — putting 600,000 jobs at risk.
New PM Liz Truss is now set to unveil a £100billion cost-of-living rescue package of handouts and tax cuts.
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