Businesses concerned about rising costs following budget

Cafes, bars, pubs, restaurants and shops across Knutsford are already worried about the rising costs they face every day as they strive to survive.

Harriet Henry, manager of The Tea Room, said: "It's great for people that the minimum wage is going up but the cost will have to come from somewhere.

"Eating and drinking will have to go up but there is only so much you can pass onto customers.

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"Our electricity has doubled recently. We've got the cost of rent, rates, staff and bills before you even start. The cost of just being open is much higher. Being on the high street is expensive."

Knutsford Tea Room Picture: Sarah Jane King Photography

The cafe, which opened three years ago, on King Street employs 14 people.

A shortage of products and a lack of drivers is causing problems for retailers.

"We have had trouble trying to get hold of things," said Harriet. "We have to pay a lot more money keeping our basic offering, getting raspberries for our jam was difficult.

"We are having to think outside the box about how we can do things."

Rate reductions and a cut in VAT gave businesses some respite.

"It was brilliant but it's all coming back," said Harriet. "We are going to keep on going one day at a time and see how we go."

Tatton Brewery supply beer to customers direct from the cask at Longridge Trading Estate.

Tatton Brewery celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2020

Managing director Gregg Sawyer said: "We are still trying to work out what the budget will mean to us. The devil is in the detail.

"It is very hard to tell how it will affect a small brewery, the details have not yet been settled."

The Legh Arms on Brook Street has attracted a growing trade from its new food menu and six different cask ales.

Legh Arms has attracted a growing trade from a new food menue and six different cask ales

Jason Varley, who runs the pub on Brook Street with manager Paul Fortescue, said: "I don't think the budget will affect us that badly.

"Everyone is expecting prices to go up a little bit. We've turned the pub around in the last 12 months."

Craft beer and artisan gin specialist Dexter and Jones is very concerned.

Katy and Adam Rickett who run Dexter and Jones

Adam Rickitt, who runs the business on Princess Street with wife Katy, said:  "Like everyone else, both as individuals and a business,  we are fully aware of the financial impact coronavirus has had on the economy. 

“We appreciate funding needs to be recouped however all the alcohol tax revision promises to do is penalise an entire industry that so many people have worked tirelessly to excel at and to establish Britain as a world leader in the field.

“The craft beer scene depends on cottage and smaller breweries pushing the boundaries, experimenting and create unique product for this fast growing audience.

"All the changes promise to do is increase the profits of big industry.

“The mass produced, profit incentivised global businesses, who can afford production in a day many of these smaller companies would struggle to in a year.

"Creating inferior product as cheaply as possible, maximising the most money they can wring out of the consumer, rather than trying to create the best product."

The changes, he believes, will reward their size and inferior product, and will actually damage everyone else.

Adam added: "It promises to vastly increase costs for the entire craft beer industry, meaning in turn price increases for the consumer, thereby turning what was heralded as such an inclusive scene, into a luxury for far too few.

"I don't think for one second this has been done maliciously,  I think it purely stems from a lack of understanding of the industry and how it now operates, and I can only hope over the coming months voices of those who actually know the situation, rather than the global super players, are heard."