Small businesses warn they may not survive winter due to UK energy bills

Traders whose fixed-price supply deals expire in October have already seen bills quadruple since early 2001

Small business owners across Britain have told of sleepless nights and fears they will not survive the winter due to looming increases in their energy bills.

Firms have experienced a 424% rise in gas costs and 349% increase in electricity since February 2021, data from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows.

A hotel in Aberdeen which says it will be cheaper to close for the winter than heat rooms for guests.

A fish and chip shop in Oswestry, Shropshire, where annual energy bills are rising from 9,000 to 35,000.

A chicken takeaway franchisee in Peterborough who fears customers will desert him if he pushes up prices to pay his bills.

An indoor mushroom farm in Bangor, Gwynedd, whose strong trading has been undermined by a ridiculous" hike in its energy costs.