A third of hospitality businesses face collapse within ‘weeks or months’

More than a third of hospitality businesses risk collapse by early next year. According to analysis by UKHospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping and Hospitality Ulster, 35% of respondents expect to be operating at a loss or to be unviable by the end of this year. Around 96% of businesses have been hit by higher energy costs, while 93% face higher food prices. The cost of living crisis is also being felt by customers, with 77% reporting a fall in people eating and drinking out of the home and 85% expecting this to get worse. Some 89% said they had no confidence in the level of support being offered by the government. A joint statement from the quartet said: “If urgent action isn’t taken, it is looking incredibly likely that we will lose a significant chunk of Britain’s iconic hospitality sector in the coming weeks and months.” The Times (£) The Guardian