Britain's newly voted best pub was forced to drain its reserves to “stay alive” after a sudden near 400% surge in its energy bill.
Grace Goodlad, landlady of The Bailey Head in Oswestry, Shropshire, is fresh from being crowned the Campaign for Real Ale’s Pub of the Year last month. The pub is a rags-to-riches success story after Grace and husband Duncan Borrowman turned what was once a closed local into a haven for the local community.
Yet Grace says said it comes despite multiple challenges. One of the biggest came in late 2021 when their energy supplier, Bulb, collapsed and left them suddenly having to find a replacement.
It resulted in their monthly energy bill rocketing from £650 to more than £3,000. “For a micro business like us, it was cataclysmic,” says Grace, who has run The Bailey Head with Duncan for nine years.
“We have been running on empty and using our reserves to stay alive.”
They were able to escape their sky-high energy contract last autumn, but energy is still costing them around £1,000 a month. The couple now face a jump in employment costs for their seven staff this April, through higher national insurance and an increase in the minimum wage. “It’s like layer on layer of punishment,” says Grace.
She called for more help with business rates – to level the playing field with other high street premises – and for the 75% rate relief for hospitality outlets such as theirs to be restored. The Bailey Head is proudly independent, right down to the brewers it stocks instead of having big-name brands. “We are on first-name terms with the local breweries,” says Grace.
Your Pub Needs You - our campaign demands
A fighting fund for pubs
Recognition for pubs that go above and beyond in their community
More support for community groups wanting to buy their local.
She is also passionate about supporting her community: “I’m a wet-led pub, and lots of people just come in for a pint and a chat. But people also come to socialise, to meet friends. We have quiz nights, raising money for local and national charities. That’s included the local cat charity to Pancreatic Cancer UK.
“Lots of groups meet up here too, from the local choir to folk groups. We have also had people who have met in here for the first time, they have become friends and have gone to each other’s kids’ weddings.”