580 hospitality businesses in Southwark face cost-of-living cliff edge 

There are 580 businesses in Southwark facing a total £2.6m energy bill increase once Government support is slashed in April, new analysis has found. 

The analysis by Southwark Liberal Democrats shows that the average bill increase per business is likely to be £4,478.  

According to Office for National Statistics data, in Southwark there are 580 pubs, restaurants and cafes at risk, facing a rise in energy bills of thousands of pounds.  

The Government initially capped the cost of business energy, but from April it is replacing the scheme, and will instead just pay a small proportion of businesses’ increased costs.

This means many pubs, cafes and restaurants will see a 90 per cent cut in help from the Government.   

Southwark Liberal Democrat Local Economy Spokeswoman, Councillor Rachel Bentley, said: “Countless businesses in our area are facing a cliff edge this year.

“Our pubs, restaurants and cafes have endured so much already, people will be devastated to see any more harm to our local high streets.  

“The Government needs to give businesses around here the support they need to endure this energy bill catastrophe.  

“Ministers in Westminster must not wait a moment more. Liberal Democrats are calling for them to intervene and think again about this change – if they don’t we could see thousands of businesses, including pubs, restaurants and cafes going bust. This could rip the heart out of our communities.”

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has been contacted for comment.

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