Facing mounting costs and shifting consumer habits, businesses in Bristol and Belfast are implementing strategic changes to their operating hours. A popular Bristol bakery is reducing its weekly service to weekends only, while a long-standing Belfast bar is extending its late-night licence, both aiming to ensure their survival and future viability in a challenging economic climate.
Key Takeaways
- A Bristol bakery is cutting weekday opening hours to focus on weekends and develop new offerings.
- A Belfast bar is extending its operating hours until 3 am to remain competitive and financially viable.
- Both businesses cite increased operational costs and changing trade patterns as reasons for their adjustments.
Bristol Bakery Shifts to Weekend Focus
Catley’s, a bakery with multiple locations in Bristol, has announced a significant change to its operating schedule. Owner Hannah Catley stated that weekday trade has been "diabolical," prompting the decision to close Monday through Thursday. The business will now operate exclusively on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays across its Clifton, St Anne’s, and Winterborne sites. This move is intended to allow the owner to avoid burnout, focus on developing new products, teaching classes, and catering to events, while still serving its customer base.
The Old Market residency for Catley’s will also conclude by the end of November. While some customers expressed concern about losing weekday access, many have shown understanding and support for the changes, appreciating the need to adapt and the owner’s well-being. The bakery plans to reassess the new schedule in the new year.
Belfast Bar Extends Hours for Survival
In Belfast, The Spaniard bar, a fixture in the city centre’s nightlife for two decades, has successfully secured an extended entertainments licence. The bar will now be permitted to operate until 3 am every night of the week, a significant increase from its previous closing time of 2 am. This extension is seen as crucial for the bar’s commercial success and its ability to compete with other establishments that already have later licences.
Owner Janine Kane highlighted the immense pressure on the hospitality sector, citing high energy prices, disproportionately high rates, and VAT. The extended hours are not necessarily intended for constant use but serve as a vital "safety catch" and an opportunity to maximise revenue during peak times, particularly during the Christmas period. The decision was met with no objections from the PSNI or the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, and councillors unanimously approved the licence variation.
