Bar, eatery to close in challenging hospitality environment
“Unfortunately the rise in food costs and excise tax, allied to difficulties finding staff, have made hospitality a challenging environment."
An Invercargill bar and eatery will close next month citing the challenges attached to the hospitality industry at the moment.
4 Mates Brewery owner Scott Whitaker and business partner Prosen Ghosh teamed up last year to open The Taproom Eatery & Craft Bar.
It operates in Dee St, in the building that formerly housed longtime and popular bar and restaurant Louie’s.
Soon after opening last year, Gosh told Stuff he felt “over the next few years a few more places are going to open up and it’s going to make for a vibrant night life”.
However, the hospitality industry is facing significant challenges nationally. Through its Facebook page, it confirmed The Taproom Eatery & Craft Bar would be closing next month.
“The team at the Taproom regret to announce that we will be permanently closing our doors after Saturday 30th December.
“Unfortunately the rise in food costs and excise tax, allied to difficulties finding staff, have made hospitality a challenging environment.
“We are still open until then, so do come and see us to enjoy chef Adam’s delicious meals and brewer Scott’s outstanding beers!
Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us! Our community’s positivity and all the great feedback have left us happy and humbled!”
During the past fortnight three high-profile restaurant closures have been announced nationally. The top-rated Shepherd in Wellington, Field and Green also in the capital, and Inca in Auckland's Newmarket.
Eftpos provider Worldline has stated it has noticed card-spending in the hospitality sector has started to fall in the past few weeks, compared to this time last year.
The Restaurant Association told Newshub that dip is being felt industry-wide.
"We are hearing from our members that it feels worse than COVID," Restaurant Association general manager Nicola Waldron said.
End game.. Prohibition via social conditioning. Expect more to fail as taxes increase.