‘Unfair and unsafe’: Restaurants and bakeries forced to close amid soaring temperatures

Hospitality businesses across the UK have closed or adjusted their opening hours as a result of the “uncomfortably hot” working conditions triggered by this week’s heatwave.

 

The Met Office has issued a Red Extreme Heat Warning for Wednesday (24 June) and Thursday (25 June), with June’s all-time daily record temperature of 35.6°C forecast to be broken for the first time in 50 years.

 

Temperatures are expected to climb to at least 39°C across parts of the UK at the peak of the heatwave.

 

Independent café and eatery Food Works in Manchester announced it will remain closed for the duration of the heatwave to protect “the health, wellbeing and safety of our team”.

 

In a post on Instagram, Food Works wrote: “As many of you know, we are expecting another heatwave this week, with temperatures forecast to reach 35 – 36 degrees. Unfortunately, we struggled yesterday due to insufficient air conditioning combined with the extreme heat generated in the kitchen. The working conditions became uncomfortably hot, and we feel it would be unfair and unsafe to ask our staff to continue working in those temperatures.

 

“For this reason, we have made the difficult decision to close the kitchen for a few days. We are hoping to reopen on Friday, although this may need to be pushed back until Saturday morning, depending on the weather and temperatures.

 

“While we understand this will have an impact on the business, the health, wellbeing and safety of our team must come first. The kitchen became extremely hot yesterday, and with temperatures expected to rise by a further 10 degrees, it is simply not safe to operate.”

 

Meanwhile, fifth-generation family-run Robins Pie & Mash, which operates six outpost across London and East England, will close half of its locations between 3pm today (23 June) and 10am Thursday (25 June) as a result of scorching temperatures.

 

Its Chelmsford, Chingford and Romford sites will remain closed to ensure staff have “a break from the hot kitchens”.

 

Robins Pie & Mash added: “It’ll be nice for them to spend some time at home enjoying the weather too.”

 

Nemo’s bar and restaurant at Stoney Cove in Leicester stated it will close its kitchens for an hour between 23 and 25 June to allow the team “a much-needed break before they go into evening service” during the “extreme heat”.

 

Several bakeries across London have also reduced their opening hours as a result of the heatwave.

 

Independently-owned Toad Bakery in Camberwell said it will close today (23 June) as a result of the “crazy temps” and serve a limited menu throughout the week, operating primarily in the mornings with “no bread, no sandwiches, and a reduced pastry menu”.

 

Meanwhile, Viennese-style café Kaffee London in Putney said its “little café isn’t quite prepared for the London heatwave” and has therefore reduced its trading hours to between 8am and 12pm, instead of the usual 5pm finish.    

 

The Dusty Knuckle, which operates bakeries across north and east London, has reduced hours and orders so that staff can have more breaks.

 

In a post on Instagram, the bakery added: "Shout out to all bakers across the city. Working along side 250 degree ovens is serious s***. We have reduced orders so baking a bit less all round."

 

While there is no legal upper limit to how hot a working environment can be, employers are obliged to ensure staff safety and to consider taking action if the heat is putting workers at risk.

 

Photo: Melinda Nagy/Shutterstock