British Gas Slaps Pub £61,667 Annual Energy Binge, Threatens Dark Days for Many

Staggering £61,667 Stark Blow to a Merseyside Brew-House

At the Rose & Crown in Bebington, Merseyside, the annual electricity bill came in at a jaw‑dropping £61,667. The numbers were so high that even the barmaids had to double‑check the receipts.

British Gas’ “Best” Offer?

British Gas had the lucky pub a “best energy deal available for” a venue of that size, with a standing charge of 40p per day. The pub manager tweeted:

“Just thought I might update you on the latest ‘best’ energy deal available for a pub of our size.”

He added that they were paying 15p per unit in May, and said the new quote was “the best” they could get at the moment. Of course, later admissions were less rosy.

Crunchy Reality Hits Hard

“It is grim,” the owner said in a subsequent tweet. “We’re in a contract until May. Fixed at the bargain price of 37p/unit. For us we’ll just have to try and make it through the winter and see what the world looks like next spring.”

As the chill set in, evenings grew longer and the drinks didn’t do any better in offsetting the cost.

City Advocate Steps in for a Finer Breath

Sacha Lord, the night‑time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, retweeted the posting.
He reminded everyone that hospitality runs without an energy price cap.
Lord warned that “an untenable situation.” Without redress, pubs might be forced to close in ways that feel more like a tragedy than a trend.
He summed it up: “It’s criminal.”

With that, the cited numbers dug a bit deeper into the pub’s bank‑balances, sending a ripple through the local scene—and perhaps a subtle hint that even drinks sometimes get expensive.

Energy Crisis Hits Pubs Like a Bad Hair Day

On a Friday that sounded more like a warning from a crackpot than a speech, a rising star in the hospitality world shouted a chilling truth: “If we don’t cut energy or get some rebates, many of us will be throwing lights off in our pubs this winter.”

He added that the government’s hands‑in‑the‑air approach is doing more damage than COVID itself. “I can see what’s coming,” he said, “they can see it too. But instead they decided to go on holiday.” He called the shrug “utterly insulting.”

What the Numbers Said

Ofgem’s shiny new announcement is a clear signal that commercial energy prices are going to climb, mortgaging jobs and the very survival of bustling taverns.
UK Hospitality CEO Kate Nicholls warned that the hike will bring “more pain to come on commercial prices, hitting jobs and viability.”

CAMRA Says “Enough Is Enough”

Chairman Nik Antona of CAMRA fired up the crowd: “Pubs, beer lovers, and the whole drinking scene need the government to roll up its sleeves and pull out the emergency brake. The UK’s finest beers, brands, and breweries must survive this insane energy and ingredient roller coaster, especially when consumer confidence is having a mid‑life crisis.

Because we’ve all put on the hard hats during the pandemic, it would be a disgrace if local, tight‑knit breweries had to bow out for good because of sky‑high energy bills and pricey goods. The crisis is already tearing them down, and more should not join the club.