Industry restaurant in Manchester closes due to ‘crippling' energy bills
Manchester-based pizza restaurant and bar Industry has closed due to "crippling energy bills".
The business opened at the height of the global pandemic and was only allowed to open for five months in its first year of operation.
In a post on Facebook, the team behind Industry said: "It is with the heaviest of hearts we have to say that Industry has closed its doors for the final time. Industry started as an idea between three friends of opening a nice little bar where you could have a drink and get a bite to eat … the reality became so much bigger than that and exceeded all of our expectations.
"Plenty of blood, sweat and tears, from both us and our incredible team, has gone in to making Industry what it has been to date. Sadly, crippling energy bills, spiralling overheads, lack of government support and VAT/tax increases have made our ‘little' idea unsustainable, without having to charge extortionate prices."
Sacha Lord, night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, tweeted: "Heartbreaking. I met the team at Industry last year, they were lovely. Again, citing energy as a factor. This gov't don't care about hospitality."
It comes after Ofgem revealed plans to tackle "poor behaviour" by energy suppliers last month.
Britain has lost around one in 18 of its licensed premises in the last year, equating to 5,736 pubs, hotels, restaurants, bars and cafés, according to the Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners.
