A business owner has opened up on the brutal reality of how the cost of living crisis is crippling local businesses.
Eddie Weights, joint owner of the Brass Pig in Southport took to social media to announce the closure of the business earlier this month, with the doors set to shut for the last time on February 5. In the post, he was honest about why he has been forced to shut, citing the current cost of living crisis.
The 43-year-old said: "Quite instantly, since covid, bills have shot up by 100%. Flour has gone from £8 to £16, wraps have gone from 80p to £1.60, but I can't put my prices up like that. That's without the cost of electricity which has gone up to £1,600 a month.
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"We put everything into this business. We're both here every day. Southport is difficult, it's only a small town and there's more than 100 places to order from on JustEat, that's less than 1,000 people for every business on the app.
"If you have two bad months you have to close. Once you rack the debt up you can't pay it off."
Eddie has now been forced to work for another restaurant in the area as a chef, with the steady income being the benefit of switching. Having worked across the country in a number of different bars and restaurants, the business owner moved back to his hometown after leaving at the age of 19.
Originally opening the Brass Pig restaurant, then decided to opt for a takeaway following the Covid-19 pandemic. he added: "All the business you get is through the apps but what people don't realise is that they take a percentage. You've also got the charges when people pay on card. It's impossible.
"We pay ourselves the bare minimum and if there is anything left it's a bonus."
Despite an overwhelming number of nice comments and reviews since announcing the closure, Eddie said: "People have said they're sad to see us go and we've had lots of good reviews but reviews don't pay the bills."
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