17 November 2023 , 20:57
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A pub has divided opinion - by charging punters £1 for every 30 minutes to sit under its outdoor heaters.
Bosses at Hyde Bar Norton in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, have implemented the change as temperatures rapidly drop. The pub says customers will now need to buy tokens from the bar to power the heaters if they want to sit outside.
Management chose this move over a blanket increase on drink prices but said something had to change to help the pub cover running costs, which are rising amid the cost-of-living crisis. The decision has, though, split opinion, though must punters backed the pub.
Writing on its Facebook page, Hyde Bar Norton said: "Energy charges are now two and a half times what we were paying last year. We have made the decision to install token meters for the outdoor canopy heaters.
"Tokens can be purchased at the bar for £1, which provides 30 minutes. The decision was not taken lightly, the only other option being a blanket increase to drinks prices. The heaters will be available all day.
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"Despite the bar being almost empty and heated inside, during quiet daytimes we have had people asking for the outdoor heaters to be put on. The running costs for these on an average month would exceed £1,000, a cost we cannot sustain.
"Like many hospitality venues, our operating costs have substantially increased over the last 18 months. We appreciate that not everyone will agree with this - some will want to have a good moan. But as a small independent business, we have to keep our costs low where we can and account for rising charges."
One Facebook user said: "Sounds fair enough to me, thank you for letting us know." Another added: "Why not go back to old pub times instead of keeping up with Wetherspoons? I believe the all day opening killed pubs who couldn't manage it."
A further user urged patrons to "put on their thermals" if they are so upset with the management's decision. It comes after an ancient pub in Gloucestershire said to be the oldest in Britain could close after 715 years - because of noise complaints from nearby neighbours.