Rising fuel bills put future of Knutsford businesses at risk

Knutsford’s food and drink retailers have rallied together to lobby the Government for urgent help.

They are calling on Grant Shapps MP, the energy security and net zero secretary for financial support.

READ > Deputy mayor Cllr Jan Nicholson steps down due to ill health

Knutsford hospitality businesses, from left, Harriet Henry of The Tea Room, Katy Rickett of Dexter & Jones, Kelly Vickers of The White Bear, Ian Pickering of Cranford Café, Jemma Marshall of The Courthouse, Caitlin Forden of April’s Kitchen, Mark Lee-Kilgariff of Tatton Perk, Hattie Cufflin of Hot Cocoa, Caterine Hooper of Detajler (Image: Sandra Curties)

The Tea Room on Cotton Shop Yard has seen electricity bills increase by 1,000 per cent, shooting from £300 to £3,000 per month.

Owner Harriet Henry said: “What are we to do, charge £40 for a sandwich? Of course, we cannot do that.

“Unless we receive some help, we will no longer have a sustainable business. “Something needs to be done.”

Harriet Henry, owner of The Tea Room says unless help is provided, her business is no longer sustainable (Image: Newsquest)

Knutsford has long boasted a thriving hospitality trade, attractubv visitors from miles around to enjoy an evening out.

Hospitality makes up 18 per cent of the businesses in town centre.

Tatton Perk opened their Malt Street café last year close to The Moor. Owner Mark Lee-Kilgariff said: “This is a nightmare scenario not just for hospitality businesses but other businesses in our town.

Barista Mark Lee-Kilgariff, owner of Tatton Perk described the fuel crisis as 'a nightmare scenario' (Image: Tatton Perk)

"We do have a loyal customer base, but we can't keep increasing costs to cover our overheads.

“We are extremely aware of declining customer confidence and want to avoid increasing prices for struggling customers.”

Town centre manager Sandra Curties, has written to Grant Shapps MP on behalf local businesses.

She is urging his new department to urgently look at the impact of energy prices, highlighting the dire consequences for UK high streets should businesses across the country be forced to close.

The White Bear has been a stalwart of the town centre for more than a century.

The pub’s energy bills have soared from £750 per month to £2,600.

Publican Kelly Vickers spoke of her extreme concern about the impact this will have on the wider community.

She said: “Pubs are the life and soul of our community. We are a local pub, our customers are our friends.

“If we close, and we will not be the only ones, where will our customers go?

Kelly Vickers and Jamie Whittaker, licensees of The White Bear, worry about the impact closures could have on the local community (Image: The White Bear)

“The repercussions of this are more than empty buildings, which are bad enough, a great British tradition is under threat.”

Mayor Cllr Mike Houghton said: “Supporting the town centre is one of the town council’s key priorities and we know that hospitality is a vital part of the shopping experience.

“When people shop, they often stop for a drink and a bite to eat.

"By highlighting hospitality, we are highlighting a threat to all our high street businesses.

“They are dependent on each other, and we know alongside hospitality sectors such as health and beauty and dry cleaners are also suffering with unsustainable increased energy costs.”

Nine businesses who have come together to voice their concern provide employment for almost 100 people.

Dexter & Jones, Cranford Café, The Courthouse, April’s Kitchen, Hot Cocoa and Detajler are all worried about the future, along with The Tea Room, Tatton Perk and The White Bear.