Summary
An award-winning restaurant called The Ollerod in Dorset, England, is set to close due to rising costs. The owner, Silvana Bandini, has decided to keep the business going as a hotel and pub, citing high utility bills, food prices, and increased staff costs. The government plans to monitor the impact of wage increases and may adjust policies to help the food industry.
Key Facts
- The Ollerod restaurant in Dorset will close on March 1st and continue as a hotel and pub.
- Owner Silvana Bandini cited rising costs of utilities, food, and staff wages as reasons for closure.
- Utility costs have significantly increased due to the absence of energy price caps for businesses.
- The restaurant won "Restaurant of the Year" at the Dorset Food and Drink Awards.
- The hospitality industry faces challenges such as high staff costs, difficult recruitment, and increased business rates.
- The UK government is monitoring wage increases and has plans to evaluate the impact on food prices through a Food Inflation Gateway.
- Employers have experienced increased staff costs over the past two years due to higher minimum wage and National Insurance contributions.
