The landlords of a Gwynedd pub have called last orders because the electricity bill rose from £600 a month to an "absolutely ridiculously stupid" £1,000 a week. Jacqueline and Emlyn Jones, who run the Brondanw Arms/Y Ring in Llanfrothen near Penrhyndeudraeth, said the rise was "unstainable".
They have been running the pub since July 2021, but have told customers they can no longer afford to keep it open because of the soaring costs. Jacqueline described the decision as "heartbreaking", but said they had no option, North Wales Live reports.
Read more: Cardiff pub to close as landlord says emotional goodbye
A post on their Facebook page on Sunday said: "Hi all, today with a heavy heart, we close the business due to absolutely ridiculously stupid utility prices. The electric bill alone is £1,000 a week now. Apologies to all and we thank you all so much for your custom, friendship, laughs and song. Diolch pawb."
Customers responded with dozens of devastated messages, with one saying: "Nooo, we loved our meals there, brilliant community focused independent brewery down here went the same way last week, really really sad times."
Another added: "Oh no The Ring was my favourite Welsh pub. It will be missed."
Jacqueline, 50, who has lived on the Llyn Peninsula for the last 14 years, said: "We took the decision this week, when we got the bill through. It had gone up from £600 a month to £1,000 a week which is just unsustainable.
"You would need to be earning about £6,000 to £7,000 a week to able to keep going and there is no way we would be able to do that here. Everybody is devastated. It's heart breaking."
The couple said they are not sure what they will do next, but they may take on a Marstons pub, where the brewery pays the bills and they have a retail agreement.
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