THE REDDITCH and Bromsgrove branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have expressed their concerns about the future of pubs in the two towns.
The Morning Advertiser, which reports on the latest trade and business news for pubs, found almost three quarters of venues were ‘unlikely to survive the winter’ unless government action was taken.
The research showed more than 60 per cent had seen their utility bills increase by 100 per cent, 30 per cent reported a 200 per cent rise and eight per cent said theirs had gone up by 500 per cent.
And, after the energy price rise cap increase last Friday, 80 per cent of licencees surveyed said they would not be able to afford the extra costs.
Unlike households, businesses do not have an energy price cap.
A RBCAMRA spokesperson said local landlords and brewers were worried about their futures at a time when they were still trying to recover from the impacts of the Covid pandemic.
Nationally, CAMRA is lobbying the Government for urgent support for venues facing rocketing energy bills and rising costs, fighting for VAT cuts on food and alcohol served in pubs and clubs and proper business rates system reforms.
The spokesperson added many Redditch and Bromsgrove pubs were doing all they could to boost business and urged everyone who could to support their local pub to ‘help them survive and still be there when the current crisis eased’.
Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said: “Our pubs are at the heart of their communities and I will always be their champion in Parliament.
“As someone who ran a small business before I became an MP I understand the challenges business owners are facing.
“I’m continuing to speak to Ministers and making them aware of the concerns of pubs and businesses in Redditch.
“Pubs and small businesses are going to need support with their energy costs, and that will be a decision for the next Prime Minister when they take office next week.
“The current Prime Minister and his Government are, as we speak, already working on options for his successor to help households and all types of businesses cope with the global energy price spikes.
“Both candidates vying to become our next Prime Minister have both stated they will go further to help my constituents.”
