'We just want fair electricity prices' no joke as Laois business slashes opening hours

A Laois Offaly business that has been forced to only open on weekends, has described their bills as going "through the roof".

Parties are going to be limited to weekends and school holidays at Clown Around in Portarlington, an indoor activity centre owned by local woman Elaine Mullally.

Last Friday she announced that her Botley Lane based business, in operation for 14 years, was cutting open times, so that they can avoid raising their prices. 

Elaine told the Leinster Express / Laois Live about what prompted her difficult decision.

“We have high insurance costs, that’s always ongoing and even though it’s balanced out it didn’t go away. Our bills are through the roof.

“But we have fantastic staff and with their help we managed to bring energy bills under control a bit. It’s this time of year too, kids are back in school,” Elaine said.

She has eight staff plus herself employed. All will have less hours but no-one will lose their job she said.

“I had a good chat with my staff and we agreed there is no point them standing around. I have a great customer base too. They were supportive of us putting the heat on for short bursts.

“Our hours will be shorter, from 12 to 5 at weekends, but hopefully with a bit of luck and more bookings we can push that out to 10 to 6pm,” she said.

Within hours of her announcement of the cutback times, the phone was hopping with bookings.

“People are ringing all day booking parties, it’s really nice, I’m so happy. 

“When you see businesses closing like Argos, so many businesses not able to cope, we are thankfully holding our own and retaining our staff, most of whom are in college during the week,” she said.

Asked what Government can do, Elaine said handouts are not the answer.

“The Government doesn’t realise that business owners are risk takers. We don’t want handouts. We just want a fair electricity price. A tax break would be great but that’s not going to happen. 

“All our food has risen by 15 to 25% because of rising energy costs. We haven’t increased our prices. We are trying to keep some level of normality. We are a luxury, and I believe if I put up the prices customers won’t come in. It’s not like food,” she said.

Laois Offaly family business slashes opening hours to stay afloat

It is the latest in cutbacks and closures of Laois businesses. Argos is closing Portlaoise and all other branches in Ireland. Seve’s restaurant  in Killenard and Rafter’s Restaurant and Sweet Bakery shut down in Portlaoise this January. 

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In Mountmellick, Hare’s Corner restaurant last week reported getting an electricity bill the size of a house deposit, reluctantly announcing a rise in prices to stay going. 

Last October, Al’s Fish Shop shut in Portarlington due to rising energy costs with proprietor Alan Mitchell warning that the rising costs pose a threat to other businesses, speaking at a public meeting he organised in Portarlington to protest the rising costs.