"Mass failure" of pubs predicted across Bucks, Beds and Herts as energy bill support ends
The British Beer and Pub Association is calling for help
We're facing a wave of pub closures if more isn't done to help with their costs.
That's what we're hearing from an industry expert.
Speaking to us, the chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said 50 pubs are closing every month across the UK on average right now.
"Pubs across the country really are on a cliff edge," Emma McClarkin said.
To date businesses including pubs have been eligible for some support with their bills through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.
It offers businesses a lower price for gas or electricity through a government discount.
However, the scheme is due to expire today, for all but a few sectors, meaning many businesses could see their bills sky rocket.
"With the energy support that's coming off at the end of March, people are seeing their bills tripling and having to find a way to increase their turnover by 11 per cent overnight and it's simply impossible...
"That is why we're seeing so many pubs take that decision that they cannot afford to stay open any more, and therefore they're closing their doors."
More pubs closed in 2022 than at any time during the pandemic, the BBPA says.
"This is an acceleration of business failure that we're seeing, because of that cost inflation, because of the situation on supply chains...but it's particularly on energy, those sky high costs and contracts that they're locked into that they cannot get out of, that we desperately need the government to take action on."
The BBPA wants energy suppliers to give pubs a window in which they can renegotiate their bills, to help them survive.
Earlier this year, The Black Horse Inn in Chesham made the difficult decision to temporarily close their doors with the hope of re-opening in the future: