Restaurant cooked without electricity or gas to protest rising energy costs

A Cheshire restaurant protested spiralling energy costs on 19 October by cooking a nine-course tasting menu without any electricity or gas.

The dinner, called ‘Back to Basics’ and by restaurant Next Door in Frodsham, was made using methods such as cold brewing coffee, teas from the fire, and cooking on charcoal.

Guests sat down to a candlelit meal accompanied with live music. There was no heating, card payments, or Wi-Fi.

It came after the Insolvency Service reported that the number of company insolvencies has risen by 59 per cent over the past year. Recent data suggested more than 216 hospitality businesses closed in July this year, up from 158 in June.

Richard Nuttall, head chef and co-owner of Next Door, told The Caterer he and his team ‘are 100 per cent committed to zero power’ on the night and said preparations have been ‘pushing us well out of our comfort zones’.

Sommelier and co-owner Vicki Nuttall added: ‘This event is a bold statement of independence and defiance against the ever-tightening constraints faced by our sector.

‘We’ve already watched some of our favourite restaurants and pubs forced to close their doors, despite being busy – this is our way of showing that this isn’t acceptable.’

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