Basingstoke pubs facing downturn in trade due to cost-of-living crisis

This comes after bosses of six of the UK’s biggest pub companies signed an open letter to the Government urging it to act to avoid “series and irreversible” damage to the sector.

In a statement last week, PM Liz Truss revealed the aim to introduce a six-month cap on business energy bills.

Ms Truss stressed that there will also be ongoing support for the most vulnerable industries, highlighting the hospitality sector, with a review in three months’ time to decide where the help should be targeted.

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The manager of Laarsen’s on Wote Street, Phil, said that while the pub has yet to be too affected by rising costs, he is concerned about how the situation might change as the crisis continues.

Laarsen's He said: “Because we have a good client basis, and we show a lot of sport, we have a lot of people come in for it, so that all ticks us over.

“And we have good regulars, they come in, so Monday to Sunday they are in here.

“But it depends on how they get affected by the energy crisis which will then have an impact on us because they won’t be coming in.”

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Meanwhile, Geoff Harmer, manager of the Wheatsheaf on Winchester Road, said that he is less worried about rising energy costs, and that he hopes he can ride out the cost-of-living crisis.

The Wheatsheaf (Credit: Google Maps/Street View) He said: “Personally, I fixed all mine in, so I’ve got about two years before I have to panic.

“But I have noticed a downturn in trading, so I can see people are worried about it even if I’m not personally.”