Thatchers Cider boss says Liz Truss must help pubs with their energy bills as many venues are at risk of closure

The Somerset-based firm is the 海角视频鈥檚 second-largest cider maker and supplies venues across the country

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16:54, 7 SEP 2022

Martin Thatcher, managing director of Thatchers Cider. (Image: Neil Phillips Photo and Film)

The boss of Thatchers Cider has called on new Prime Minister Liz Truss鈥檚 government to provide support for pubs at risk of closure due to rocketing energy bills.

The 海角视频鈥檚 second-largest cider maker supplies hospitality venues across the country with cider it has been producing at its Myrtle Farm base in Somerset since 1904.

Managing director Martin Thatcher told BusinessLive many pubs could face having to pay energy costs that are more expensive than their rent.

Mr Thatcher said: 鈥淭his has come at a particularly bad time because pubs have barely had time to recover from Covid, where they had long periods of time where they were shut. I really hope there is some sort of support for hospitality.

鈥淎nd of course, for people in general, heating and energy bills are going up so fast that it puts everyone in a very difficult position. I hope there will be a package of measures to support both those groups.鈥�

Last week the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) - which includes bosses from six of the 海角视频鈥檚 biggest pub and brewing companies - warned thousands of establishments unprotected by a cap on what gas and electricity suppliers charge them could be forced to shut their doors - putting scores of jobs at risk.

Mr Thatcher, the fourth generation of his family to take up the trade, said the firm鈥檚 own energy costs had gone up 125% and were likely to further increase.

He added: 鈥淥ther costs, things like CO2, have gone up a lot more than that, cardboard - so it鈥檚 the knock-on effect through the whole supply chain. It makes it very difficult, and many businesses will be finding it very tough at the moment.鈥�

鈥淚 think BBPA are right, this is potentially very bad for the hospitality industry and we would support anything that helps pubs and people in hospitality industry to mitigate these increase in cost in fuel and all the knock-on effects of the increase in cost of fuel they鈥檙e suffering at the moment, particularly after they鈥檝e had a dreadful time in Covid as well.

鈥淭he British pub is such an important part of local communities it鈥檚 where people eat, as well as have a drink and maybe eat, but it鈥檚 that social interaction, pubs are part of the fabric of Britain and they should be supported.鈥�

In June Thatchers Cider reported increased market share with profit after tax of 拢11.1m for the financial year to August 31, 2021 - up from 拢7.2m a year earlier - despite national lockdowns restrictions on the hospitality sector.

Mr Thatcher said despite the company鈥檚 previous navigation of difficult economic circumstances, it was 鈥渁lways difficult to predict the future鈥�.

Mr Thatcher said: 鈥淲ho would have predicted after Covid we would be in this position? Who would have predicted Covid? As a business we鈥檝e always got to be really focused on what's coming next.

鈥淥ne of our principles is 鈥榗hange is inevitable鈥� - there is no other time in the last 20 to 30 years where that has been more relevant. You have to keep changing to meet the circumstances. That鈥檚 really important and it always comes back to having a brilliant team who can do that.鈥�