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Business Energy for Hospitality & Restaurants

Kitchen heat, cold storage and long trading hours mean energy is a real line in your P&L, not a detail. Pubs, cafés and restaurants can prioritise a few high-impact areas without chasing every gimmick.

Next step: If you use under about 50,000 kWh a year, you can get a quote in under 90 secs online — fast, no obligation. Bigger supply, half-hourly metering, or prefer chat? Use the contact page.

Where Hospitality Energy Goes

Restaurants, pubs and cafés usually burn most kWh on cooking and cold storage; numbers below are illustrative for planning conversations with staff, not benchmarks. Dig into equipment upgrades, gas vs electric heat and HVAC scheduling.

• 60% Kitchen equipment - Ovens, grills, fryers, hobs, dishwashers
• 20% Refrigeration - Walk-in fridges, display chillers, freezers
• 15% HVAC - Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, extraction
• 5% Lighting - Kitchen, dining area, exterior signage

Real Example: 50-Cover Restaurant

Typical consumption: 40-60 kWh per cover per year

50 covers × 50 kWh = 2,500 kWh/year × 26p = £650/year electricity

Plus gas (cooking + hot water): 8,000 kWh × 10p = £800/year gas

Total energy: £1,450/year

Quick Wins (Under £500)

1. LED lighting upgrade: Replace 20× 50W halogens with 7W LEDs. Cost £120, saves £180/year. Payback: 8 months.

2. Fridge door strips: Replace worn rubber seals on walk-in fridge. Cost £80, saves 15% refrigeration = £165/year. Payback: 6 months.

3. Extraction controls: Variable speed extraction linked to cooking demand. Cost £300, saves £120/year. Payback: 30 months.

Bigger Investments (£1,000-5,000)

High-efficiency refrigeration: Replace old chest freezer with A+++ rated unit. Cost £1,200, saves 30% (£330/year). Payback: 3.6 years.

Combi oven upgrade: Modern combi ovens use 20-30% less energy than old units. Cost £3,500, saves £200/year. Payback: 17 years (only worth it if replacing anyway).

Behavioral Savings (Zero Cost)

• Turn off equipment during prep time (not just service)
• Defrost freezers monthly (ice buildup wastes 25% energy)
• Close fridge/freezer doors quickly
• Use lids on pans (reduces cooking time 20%)
• Switch HVAC to setback when closed

Related Guides

Your next step: When you are ready to compare business tariffs, get a business energy quote online (typically under a minute, no obligation). Larger supply, half-hourly metering, or you prefer messaging? See the contact page.