Local Pubs Face Financial Strain Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis

The hospitality industry in Wakefield is grappling with significant challenges, including rising costs and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Local pub owners, like Gemma Woodhouse of The Lupset, are feeling the impact as they navigate declining customer numbers and soaring bills.

Woodhouse, who has owned The Lupset for two years but has worked there for four, lives at the pub with her family. She expressed the difficulties of maintaining financial viability in the current climate, stating, “It’s not viable financially the way things are at the moment.” She further highlighted the concerning trend of local business closures, noting, “I am not surprised so many businesses are having to close down.”

Despite these challenges, The Lupset has managed to attract customers through events like quiz nights and partnerships with local football and majorette teams. According to Woodhouse, these efforts are crucial: “If I didn’t have that sort of customer base there would be very few people in at the weekend.” The pub’s beer garden also serves as a draw during warmer weather, yet Woodhouse lamented the shifts in customer habits due to the cost-of-living crisis, calling it “really upsetting.”

To adapt to changing consumer behavior, Woodhouse has reduced prices twice in the last four months to encourage patronage. She warned that without significant changes in policies regarding VAT, energy bills, duty, and business rates, many local pubs could face permanent closure. “Without bold action… we will continue to see local pub after local pub close down for good, especially privately owned ones like me that don’t have the security of a big brewery pay-rolling things,” she cautioned.

The situation is mirrored at The Carleton, a Greene King community pub in nearby Pontefract. General manager Jodie Hughes has also observed a decline in footfall and noted that customers are now more cautious with their spending. “People don’t have as much money. They like to save for bigger occasions. That’s made us work a little bit differently,” Hughes explained.

To counteract these trends, Greene King launched a loyalty app in September 2023 that offers discounts and rewards aimed at attracting new customers. Hughes reported positive results, stating that the app has encouraged patrons to stay longer and visit more frequently, effectively improving business during typically slower months like September and October.

As local pubs continue to adapt to the evolving economic landscape, their resilience and community engagement remain vital. The Lupset is located at 328 Horbury Road, Lupset, Wakefield, WF2 8JF, while The Carleton can be found on Hardwick Road, Pontefract, WF8 3PQ.

The challenges faced by these establishments underscore the broader struggles within the hospitality sector, prompting calls for supportive measures to ensure their survival.