How a Marlow Pub Cut Energy Bills in Half (and Still Served a Fancy Beverage)
Picture this: a cosy pub in Marlow, the kind of place where the only kind of “high” you might chase is a vintage wine. Then one day the manager, Alan Dooley, gets a crisp, cold call—“Your energy bill’s about to blow up like a gin and tonic on a scorched air‑conditioner.”
Turns out it wasn’t a typo. It was the reality: the upcoming winter could send the monthly bill from a manageable £5k to a staggering £35k. Better than a bad barbecue? Nope.
Enter the Energy Nerd
Alan called on the “Energy & Sustainable Consultancy” crew at Advantage Utilities. They arrived like a B‑team of super‑savvy detectives:
- Short‑term contract. They locked in a deal for Dec. 1 – Mar. 31, 2023, so the pub didn’t have to watch the price spook.
- All‑encompassing audit. Kitchen lights, HVAC, iPads, the ten‑pin bowling tapes (okay, maybe not) – every watt was rated.
- “Energy Bill Relief” scheme. A little government boost for the stressed.
Result: a 27 % drop in energy spend over a year, translating to a crisp £51,175 saved. That’s equivalent to a decent round of pints for three weekends.
What Exactly Did They Replace?
- LED lighting. Those bright bulbs that actually light up without pricing out the landlord.
- Air‑conditioning fine‑tuning. Fiddled so the cool air was just enough.
- Fridge efficiency. “Why be wasteful when you can keep the wine on ice?”
- Solar panels. Sunpower was the boss, not the landlord.
- Voltage optimisation. Tuning the charge so everything ran smoothly.
“Now we buy energy like we buy grub or ale,” Dooley remarks, with a smile that says he’s relieved but still enjoying a thermal hiss from the kitchen stove. Hannah Thomas, the senior consultant, echoed that “the cheapest energy is the one you don’t consume”—an aphorism that neatly ties biology to economics.
Why It All Matters
In the hospitality world, energy runs up around 10 % of a venue’s turnover, and that’s a serious cough in your finances. But business owners who plan well, like the Hard & Flowers, could profit from “flex” contracts that let them ride the volatility, then switch into a reduction plan for the summer rush. Advantage Utilities promised changes are easier than arranging the right sort of barstool; you just need someone who knows the pros and cons of each contract type.
Takeaway
If you’re stuck with an energy bill that feels like a bloated coach, remember:
- Get a clear idea of your consumption – why are you using energy at its peak?
- Consider a temporary fixed contract, like a grab‑and‑go dinner.
- Look for consultancy advice: they could be the behind‑the‑scenes magician that saves you from financial haunts.
Because nothing tells a man he’s managed an economy better than having £51k saved back into his drink budget.
