Hospitality businesses all over Ireland are struggling through this most recent crisis.

  As someone who writes for two food blogs, it's been incredibly disheartening to see the number of small hospitality businesses that are currently struggling in the wake of the cost of living crisis. Since the Budget for 2023 was announced last week, there's been a stark number of restaurants and café either reporting on price increases, going part-time, and in some incredibly sad cases, closing altogether. After over two very difficult years of adhering to covid restrictions, it seems to be one thing after another for hospitality.

Closures

Just one hour after the Budget was announced, The Mariner and Eathouse in Wicklow announced their closure with immediate effect. Now while this was likely already coming for the bar, the timing was harrowing to say the least. They cited, "the prices of energy and produce" as the reason behind their closure. https://www.instagram.com/p/CjAnf2msSW1/ JP McMahon, of Aniar Galway, tweeted his own frustrations today, saying:

"How many restaurants have to close for government to respond? Is one a day too many? Or is our food culture completely supplementary to their vision?"

McMahon's restaurant Tartare closed in August after five years in business. https://twitter.com/mistereatgalway/status/1577970151600840706?s=20&t=eq11txBigLKlJeStA7F-Qg Dublin locals were devastated to learn that Vegan Sandwich Co, a vegan deli that's been considered hugely successful, had decided to close their two restaurants with immediate effect this week. https://twitter.com/vegansandwichco/status/1577707025055842304?s=20&t=dVirWBxXFBph0TgSM6M4lQ

Closing Temporarily

And for those who don't close, they have other undesirable avenues to consider. Galway restaurant Darcy Twelve are pressing pause indefinitely while they figure out their next move. Joe's Chicken in Bray are similarly shutting up shop for the winter. While it's likely both of these spots will be back, it's likely their closures are a result of the lack of staff and rising costs. https://www.instagram.com/p/CjPzS9IMdHw/

Raising Prices

Many businesses are raising their prices, and facing backlash in the face of it from their customers. Dublin café Provender & Family had to release a candid statement on their Instagram explaining why they were charging more. Grounded in Clonskeagh made a similar statement, saying they had "no choice but make a minor price increase" on their goods. Currently hardly a day goes by where a café or restaurant doesn't have to disclaim raising their prices. https://www.instagram.com/p/CifOh2tIDB7/ While the Budget 2023 aims to help small businesses get through the current crisis, many believe it's not enough. You can read all about how the Budget 2023 aims to tackle these issues HERE. We can only hope that things improve from here for Irish businesses and restaurants. Header images via Instagram/tartaregalway & Twitter/vegansandwichco READ ON: Galway restaurant is 'pressing pause' due to 'a number of challenges'