Pub hits customers with £2-an-hour charge to sit under outside heaters
Bar says it would have been forced to hike drink prices if it did not start outdoor heater charge
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A pub has started charging customers £2 an hour to use their outdoor heaters, saying they were left with no choice because of rising energy costs.
Hydes Bar Norton, in Stockton-on-Tees, installed token metres in their outdoor seating area, with customers now told to pay £1 for 30 minutes.
The bar said if they did not start charging for their outdoor heaters, they would have been forced to increase drink prices.
The pub’s owners said on social media: “Following a review of energy charges, which are now two and a half times what we were paying last year, we have made the decision to install token meters for the outdoor canopy heaters.
“Tokens can be purchased at the bar for £1, which provides 30 minutes.
“The decision was not taken lightly, the only other option being a blanket increase to drinks prices. The heaters will be available all day.
“Despite the bar being almost empty and heated inside, during quiet daytimes we have had people asking for the outdoor heaters to be put on.
“The running costs for these on an average month would exceed £1000, a cost we cannot sustain. Like many hospitality venues, our operating costs have substantially increased over the last 18 months.
“We appreciate that not everyone will agree with this, some will want to have a good moan, but as a small independent business, we have to keep our costs low where we can and account for rising charges.”
The decision has divided customers, with some suggesting that pub-goers wear thermals, while another suggested limiting the venue’s opening hours.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments