A VILLAGE pub in Hampshire is ‘fighting back’ after a dramatic increase in energy bills.

Lenny Carr-Roberts, Chef Patron at The Bugle Inn in Twyford, says he remains optimistic about the business despite the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The 49-year-old, who has owned the business for 14 years, remains adamant the strong relationship between the tavern and the local community has helped the business thrive in difficult circumstances.

Mr Carr-Roberts is also the director of The Fox in Crawley and Shoal, a fish and chip shop in Winchester.

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The eatery in Twyford has seen a surge in monthly bills from £2,000 to around £12,000.

Mr Carr-Roberts said: “Although times are difficult, we find that customers are still willing to spend and still want value and we’re pretty much still booked for December for the Fox and the Bugle which is great.

“We are very optimistic for 2023 because we have such a strong customer base around the village, we are almost 95 per cent back to pre-pandemic trade which is fantastic to say.

“We’re fighting back.”

Hampshire Chronicle: Just one of the dishes at The Bugle Inn in TwyfordJust one of the dishes at The Bugle Inn in Twyford (Image: Submitted)

During the Christmas season, the eatery will be running its Christmas menu which includes the option for a two or a three-course meal.

Mr Carr-Roberts said: “This year is the first Christmas in two years that people are really wanting to come out, people coming to watch football, or coming to meet their family and friends, as well as people booking for Christmas, with our set Christmas menu which has been very popular.”

In the new year, however, the business owner expects the first few months to be quite challenging.He said: “The start of the year I think it’ll be a difficult start, we close for the first two weeks of the year to give our staff a break, then we reopen on January 17 and it’ll be quite challenging especially because of the cost of fuel.”