21/08/2025
🍽️ The UK business energy market has been nothing short of a “catastrophe” (Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert) — and few industries have felt it more than hospitality.
While households received £150bn of government support through an energy price cap, pubs, restaurants, hotels and cafés were left facing a complex, under-regulated market with limited protection.
Here’s where things went wrong:
-3,000+ energy brokers vs just 50 suppliers.
Many venues were tied into long-term contracts at inflated rates.
-Brokers often earned large undisclosed commissions — sometimes upfront and linked to longer deals — meaning recommendations didn’t always serve the customer’s best interest.
🔎 Ofgem’s 2022 review confirmed these issues and introduced key reforms:
-Brokers must now disclose all commissions and charges.
-They must be registered with dispute resolution schemes.
-Energy providers can no longer enforce termination notices when clients switch.
✅ The good news: if your bar, restaurant, café or hotel was mis-sold an energy contract, you could be entitled to reclaim significant sums of money.