Skyrocketing energy bills force Devon café to close

Another Devon business has fallen victim to the cost of living crisis as an independent café announces it will be closing for good. The owner says their energy bills have tripled in just six months.

Brunch, Lunch & Munch Café in Exmouth will close in just a few weeks' time after five years in the town. The business was first opened by Richard and Nikki Jackson on Albion Street, in the former Albion Cafe, before moving to the Parade in November 2022.

Earlier this year, the café scaled down its operations and closed its upstairs café and play area, as the owners said a "massive decline in use" had made it "unviable". The first floor was reopened a few weeks later but the counter remained closed, with customers only able to order food and drink downstairs.

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In a lengthy statement on the cafe's Facebook page yesterday (June 23), it was announced that the café would be closing for good. Richard and Nikki say they have now given notice to their landlord and will be winding down the business in the coming weeks.

They say they made it through the pressures of the pandemic, various shortages and rising costs over recent years but that they can no longer contend with their energy bills, which they say have skyrocketed since November 2023. An official closing date is yet to be set and the café remains open for now.

The owners said: "It’s with a heavy heart we are to announce that we have decided to formally submit our notice on the tenancy at the property we trade from and start winding down the business and effectively cease trading in July next month. Reason being we simply cannot absorb the energy bills any longer which we have been battling with since November last year.

"Being a business owner is tough. Being a business owner in the hospitality trade I believe is even tougher. Since our humble beginnings at the Albion, we’ve been hit with covid, staff shortages, food shortages, fuel shortages with the food van, food inflation and the cost of living crisis which we've got though.

"Unfortunately the energy bills for us tripled since November where the stress has simply just got too much. I'm devastated, heartbroken as all the hard work and long hours and 5 years of hard work have simply been washed away.

"Can I not sell the business you might ask? I wouldn’t want anyone to put up with this plus the issues we’ve had with this building since we moved in.

"As for any comments about the play room, and the upstairs, well saving energy and making things viable have been key in recent months and I can assure you with or without this area, the same result would have happened.

"I'd like to finish by thanking firstly my staff, past and present as without you, we couldn't have made it this far. Also to our wonderful customers from the Albion, to everyone we’ve seen on the van route at businesses around the town and at our shop now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support, it's been great to be part of the Exmouth community.

"A man knows his limits, and I know I've reached mine, before breaking point is met. Shop sale has started, as well as at Sugar bug for shop clearance, so come and grab a bargain

"Final thought. When you buy a coffee or a sandwich in town next time, check out our amazing independents. Right now they need your support more than ever.

"Trading as normal next week. We are on holiday from the 3rd-10th July where we will then judge for a final day of trading."

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