Cold restaurants

[Spinning101]

Has anyone else noticed that restaurants have got so cold recently ?!

i was in a pub for lunch today, and they had a fire going but none of the radiators were on - it was freezing ! I had to keep my coat on & my feet were like ice blocks by the time we left. The food also went cold really quickly

(I totally get that it’s expensive at the moment and it’s been really cold recently but it kind of spoils the night when you’re shivering!).

Yeah they can't afford the bills. Nothing they can do really

Yes I've noticed this. My chips went cold quickly.

Also shopping centres are cold now too.

We went out for lunch today and it was chilly. Chain family restaurant type place that we drove to and left our coats in the boot. I was layered up after being outside earlier in the day but my kids weren't. They are pretty hardy but even they complained. I'll remember jumpers and scarves next time.

I would definitely query the lack of heating in a restaurant or pub , I can’t abide being cold and would leave.

Piece on the radio few weeks ago about a pub that’s closing two nights each week because the level of custom doesn’t justify the heating costs.

I’ve noticed some shops (mostly independent) being really cold, it makes me sad as they must be struggling to cover cost of heating, and I feel sorry for the people working there.

Yes I’ve noticed this, and I get why.

But, I think people will stop going to these places if they have to wear heavy outerwear including scarves and gloves for a meal/drink out, which should be enjoyable and cosy.

Also swimming pools are getting colder to the point where I’m finding it painful to get my upper body underwater!

Yes completely agree with PP who’ve said it’s really sad - suppose we have all
had to make adjustments recently

@AlinaSquareQueen and yes I’ve thought that about the pool in my gym, suppose it makes you swim faster though !

It's my current bugbear.

We spent £80 on a local lunch last week and were freezing and left as soon as we could. I did mention it to the waitress who just agreed. It was a waste of money. Unfortunately I know the restaurant needs support to survive but we won't be going back or recommending it in a hurry.

I also had a very expensive dinner in a Michelin star restaurant late last year and was freezing the whole time. It's my second visit to the restaurant but will definitely be my last because of the temperature. I mentioned it multiple times to the staff who just completely blanked my comment. Again, I believe the restaurant may be struggling but giving a bad customer experience is only going to make that worse.

It's a vicious circle but if a restaurant isn't comfortable, customer numbers will fall to zero so I think they have no choice.

I changed my hairdressers because there was no heating on and customers often didn’t shut the door properly when they came in or left. It was fine during the summer but the salon became damp and there was black mould on the ceiling as temperatures dropped. My teeth were chattering when I was sat there with wet hair. No coffee (which stopped being given to clients during covid) was offered either to warm you up. I do feel for businesses at the moment but sometimes no heating is false economy if they’re losing custom

Yes, I have noticed this. We were out for dinner and I kept my coat on the entire time. We didn't stay for puddings or coffees or another drink as too cold so maybe a false economy on the restaurant's part.

Yep - we were in a Chinese last year and the heating was turned off.
Never took off my coat off the whole time I was in there. It was noticeably cold. They closed early too.

Fuck that.

I’d go home and order a takeaway.

Not turning the heating on is really bad hosting.

I feel sorry for the small family restaurants.

A few have closed in my home town.
Huge costs and overheads.

I'm sure they would if they could, but if they can't afford it what can they do.

They will either go bust because they can't pay their energy bills, which is a certainty and will be quick if they keep the heating on or they will go bust because people don't come back, which should take longer.

They are obviously hoping they will last until it gets warmer.

Yes, we specifically didn't go somewhere today because it's always cold, which in turn makes it worse for the place!

They'll go bust when no one goes because its bloody freezing.

I don’t know what the answer is - I really feel for the businesses that are struggling, however going to have lunch/dinner somewhere when it’s as cold inside as it is outside completely puts me off and makes me unlikely to return.

Yes we had a voucher to go to an indian restaurant last night. Huge place but only us and one other couple there and it was cold. I imagine half empty places are perhaps struggling a bit in January.

Our local play centre has a sign saying they are no longer offering hot water in the toilets for hand washing to keep costs down.
They also have the heating off because the kids will be fine running about.

I'm not fine though and it makes it unpleasant enough to not want to go.

I've noticed this over the last few winter months. I'm someone who feels the heat easily,I don't cope well with hot weather (anything over 25 degrees and I'm suffering) but bizarrely I've spent the last few months complaining I'm cold all the time. I've noticed it in several cafes,a couple of restaurants and my favourite coffee shop. I swear in one restaurant they had the air conditioning on when it was 4 degrees outside! As a heat sensitive person,if I'm noticing it,it must be bad!

That is what I said in my post!

Yes, had lunch out the other day and it really made it a much less pleasant experience, although the food and service was lovely. They did light the fire while we were there but too late for us to get the benefit of it, and I had to keep my coat on the whole time we were there.

I have notice this more in buisness and public places. If it's really bad it will put me off going back or staying for long. I do wonder if it makes sense in the long run for them as obviously they are losing customers because of it.

I wouldn’t go anywhere that was cold.

On another point, it seems all cafes/ restaurants are packed at the moment. ( the heated ones anyway) have loads closed down due to the energy crisis?