In January I was looking for a nice pub/restaurant to take my wife on her birthday and several that we have been to previously were not open in the first half of the week, or did not serve lunches in Monday to Wednesday. Also menus had been reduced in choice with offerings such as burgers, cottage pie, sausage and mash etc being prevalent. Not much choice of fish other than beer battered slivers, or meats! It was quite an eye opener for me on how widespread were the changes.
This last week we spent four nights away in a nice secluded pub near to Lynton. We have been there before so settled in very quickly. During our stay there we were the only ones resident, and in addition to our evening meals only four more meals were served in that time, and the bar was surprisingly low on customers and most had gone by just after eight o clock. Yet the building was nicely heated throughout. The pub no longer serves lunches as they cannot find staff, and we asked what the bookings were like for this weeks half term. It was a surprise to be told that the pub would be closed From today for a week. The reason being that the staff and chef all have children and trying to match work and childcare was neigh impossible given the shortage of alternative staff. The last time we visited in January 2017 the place was buzzing in the evenings.
In Lynton/Lynmouth the staff shortages have led to some pubs and restaurants joining forces to create a rota whereby some close certain times, whilst others are open. The staff then move between the open venues. The hope in the town is that come spring custom will increase, but there will still be a shortage of staff as the seasonal trade relied on overseas staff being available, and try as they might the venues have been unsuccessful in attracting British seasonal staff. The would be staff, mainly students, have a wider choice of hospitality employment in the towns and cities where they can still live at home or in their student accommodation, and maintain their social lives too. Being local to their colleges the students can combine studies with part time work.
I will not comment on Ilfracombe other than talking to a local couple who had retired there they believe that there are a number of hotels and restaurants that will not be opening again for the 2024 season, and that is in addition to those already boarded up.
It seems that the problem of staffing shortages, combined with the pandemic, Cost of Living inflation affecting both suppliers and customers of hospitality, and the peoples changing holiday styles have all put pressure on the industry. To some extent it must be affecting the caravan sites although possibly not quite so visible as the customers are not so dependent on staff availability and the business model is different. My own thoughts are that it is not going to improve any time soon and more closures or cut backs will be inevitable until some sort of equilibrium is attained.
This last week we spent four nights away in a nice secluded pub near to Lynton. We have been there before so settled in very quickly. During our stay there we were the only ones resident, and in addition to our evening meals only four more meals were served in that time, and the bar was surprisingly low on customers and most had gone by just after eight o clock. Yet the building was nicely heated throughout. The pub no longer serves lunches as they cannot find staff, and we asked what the bookings were like for this weeks half term. It was a surprise to be told that the pub would be closed From today for a week. The reason being that the staff and chef all have children and trying to match work and childcare was neigh impossible given the shortage of alternative staff. The last time we visited in January 2017 the place was buzzing in the evenings.
In Lynton/Lynmouth the staff shortages have led to some pubs and restaurants joining forces to create a rota whereby some close certain times, whilst others are open. The staff then move between the open venues. The hope in the town is that come spring custom will increase, but there will still be a shortage of staff as the seasonal trade relied on overseas staff being available, and try as they might the venues have been unsuccessful in attracting British seasonal staff. The would be staff, mainly students, have a wider choice of hospitality employment in the towns and cities where they can still live at home or in their student accommodation, and maintain their social lives too. Being local to their colleges the students can combine studies with part time work.
I will not comment on Ilfracombe other than talking to a local couple who had retired there they believe that there are a number of hotels and restaurants that will not be opening again for the 2024 season, and that is in addition to those already boarded up.
It seems that the problem of staffing shortages, combined with the pandemic, Cost of Living inflation affecting both suppliers and customers of hospitality, and the peoples changing holiday styles have all put pressure on the industry. To some extent it must be affecting the caravan sites although possibly not quite so visible as the customers are not so dependent on staff availability and the business model is different. My own thoughts are that it is not going to improve any time soon and more closures or cut backs will be inevitable until some sort of equilibrium is attained.
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