Tom Kerridge’s Energy Nightmare
In a shockingly dramatic turn of events, Tom Kerridge’s first‑class pub in Marlow is now facing an £420,000 annual energy bill—a staggering jump from the original £60,000. That’s like going from a modest family feast to a banquet so expensive you’d have to borrow a small country’s budget to pay for it.
Why the Costs Are Sky‑High
- Monthly electricity bill: £5,000 (drastic increase predicted to reach £35,000 by December’s lease expiry).
- Energy price hikes have exploded—reports show businesses face increases of 300% to 1,000% over current rates.
- With inflation stuck, households find energy cuts taking up a hefty 11% of their average salary.
- After Ofgem’s latest cap, online searches for “loan application” shot up by 295%.
- British Gas estimates an eye‑watering £61,667 for a single pub’s yearly electric bill, hinting at looming “lights‑off” scenarios.
Kerridge’s Call to Action
“There’s no way businesses can afford a 400‑to‑600% increase,” Kerridge told The Telegraph, sounding as if he’s handing out a lifeline to the hospitality sector. He’s already shopping around the market for a better deal across his three Marlow pubs.
He’s not alone. Sacha Lord, NTIA Chair and the Night Time Economy Advisor for Greater Manchester, says the current price escalations are unsustainable and that the nation risks thousands of closures if action stalls.
What’s Needed
- A business energy price cap from the Government.
- A VAT reduction not only for pubs but for all small businesses.
- Urgent intervention to prevent a wave of lost venues and the economic fallout that would follow.
In short, Tom Kerridge is shouting from the rooftops for policy change—because a £420,000 bill across a single pub is just too much to swallow, and the entire UK hospitality scene might collapse if we don’t act now.
