Scott Westlake, who operates The New Inn, Eccup, near Leeds, said he felt compelled to speak directly to customers as costs continue to rise sharply across the business.
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Westlake also runs The Myrtle Tavern in Meanwood, Leeds, which won the ‘Best Pub Garden’ title at last year’s Great British Pub Awards (GBPA), said transparency was key during a particularly challenging period for the sector.
‘Hoping they understand’
“Honest communication with customers, hoping they would understand the situation and show support, as this is a new tenancy and we have committed to a lot of external work,” he said.
In a post shared on Instagram, Westlake outlined the scale and speed of cost increases affecting the business.
The New Inn, located near Eccup Reservoir and the Emmerdale filming area, has been trading for five months, with Westlake highlighting rapid increases in energy costs as a major concern.
“Within two weeks of the war starting, oil costs rose sharply, with kerosene hit hardest and propane also increasing,” he said.
He added that wider cost pressures, including increased national insurance contributions and wage rises, are compounding the issue.
“The Government should help more with a reduction in VAT. The minimum wage has increased, which has been an extra cost, especially for under-21s. The biggest cost to this site is the employers’ NI as we have a few staff paid over £34k,” he said.
Reached its limit
Despite these pressures, Westlake said the business has reached its limit in terms of passing on further costs to customers.
“We rose prices to cover wage and beer increases but we are at our maximum for the area,” he said.
While customer demand has so far remained stable, he warned rural pubs face additional structural challenges.
“Due to energy, yes. We have no gas supply, are further out on delivery routes and have a septic tank, for example another surcharge,” he said.
Westlake added that targeted Government support would be key to easing pressure on operators.
“Review the rates for pubs, reduce VAT for hospitality like Spain and other countries,” he said.
His comments come as operators across the sector continue to navigate rising costs, with many calling for further intervention to support the long-term sustainability of pubs.
