Muhammad Amad

The Scottish hospitality industry has been significantly impacted by the ongoing cost of living crises, with businesses facing numerous challenges. Forced closures and restrictions have led to financial struggles and job losses within the sector.

General Manager of Kitty o’Sheas Pub, Daniel Slattery, says about the impacts of living cost crises on the industry that “The Biggest impact is that the average spend per head has reduced significantly and what we have found is that especially with younger people they tend to drink prior to come into the pub and they also leave early. When I was young, when last ordered happened lots of people used to come up on the bar to get three or four drinks carry back to their table. Now you’re lucky if you get two or three people to drink.”

He further said that “I think a pub a week in 2022 was closing due to cost of living increases. And we had seen that with ourselves. The electricity and gas prices are massively increased. So our daily running cost are also affected by the cost of living crises.”

David Carson, General Manager Platform Bar and restaurant, is sharing some insights about the expenses that “It’s quite hard to quantify the overall costs that how much actually kitchen cost is to operate. But the energy cost is been massive. The electricity bill here is been up to 10 thousand pounds on a month, which is huge. That’s the impact of cost of living crises.”

In an interview, Stephen, the Executive Director of a prominent Scottish hospitality group, shed light on the organization’s proactive measures aimed at employee retention and said “We make sure that our employee’s once get food and proper breaks during the shift. We give 25% discount to our employees’ family whenever they come to our restaurants. We also give them one of the cost of living grant worth of 3 hundred pounds.”

The Scottish hospitality industry is currently facing significant challenges due to ongoing cost of living crises. It is crucial that immediate intervention and support from government and community stakeholders are provided to ensure the survival and future of this vital sector.