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How to Cut Pub Energy Bills: Cellar Cooling, Kitchens and Lighting

Most pubs can cut their energy bills without big spending. The quickest wins are usually your energy contract, your cellar cooling and the equipment left running when you're closed. This guide goes through each area of the pub and what to do about it.

If you want to know what a typical pub spends first, see our guide: How much does it cost to run a pub?

1. Start with your energy contract

The single biggest saving for most pubs comes from the price you pay, not how much you use. If your contract has ended and you've rolled onto out-of-contract or deemed rates, you could be paying far more than a negotiated fixed price.

  • Find your contract end date on your bill or ask your supplier.
  • Start comparing up to 12 months before it ends.
  • Check whether you're on a single rate, day/night or half-hourly tariff, and whether it suits your opening hours.

Moving from a rolled-over rate to a competitive fixed deal typically saves 8 to 18%.

2. Cellar cooling and refrigeration

Cellar cooling is often 25 to 35% of a pub's energy use, and it runs 24 hours a day. Small fixes here add up quickly.

  • Set the right temperature. Most cask ales are kept at 11 to 13°C. Running the cellar colder than you need wastes energy.
  • Keep the cellar door shut. Fit a self-closer and check the seals.
  • Clean the condenser. A dusty condenser makes the cooler work harder. Get it serviced at least once a year.
  • Keep heat sources out. Ice machines and glass washers in the cellar add heat the cooler has to remove.
  • Check python and line coolers. Make sure lines are insulated and coolers aren't oversized for your throughput.
  • Bottle fridges. Switch off back-bar fridges that aren't needed overnight or in quiet months, and keep them stocked rather than half empty.

3. The kitchen

For food-led pubs, the kitchen can use as much energy as the cellar.

  • Switch equipment on in stages before service, not all at once at opening.
  • Turn fryers, grills and ovens down or off between services.
  • Keep fridge and freezer door seals clean and replace damaged ones.
  • Run dishwashers only when full.
  • Put extraction fans on controls so they don't run at full speed all day.

4. Lighting

  • Switch to LED. LED bulbs use far less electricity than halogen or old fluorescent tubes and last much longer. In bars and dining areas lit all day, they pay back quickly.
  • Use timers and sensors. Fit motion sensors in toilets, corridors, the cellar and stores.
  • External lights. Put signage and car park lights on timers or daylight sensors.

5. Heating and hot water

  • Set heating on a timer that matches your opening hours.
  • Don't heat function rooms or upstairs areas you aren't using.
  • Insulate hot water tanks and pipes.
  • Get the boiler serviced every year.
  • Close doors between heated and unheated areas, and fix draughts around doors and windows.

6. Switch off at close

Make a closing checklist for staff. Coffee machines, glass washers, display fridges, TVs, gaming machines and hand dryers often run all night for no reason. Fit timers to anything that can wait until morning.

7. Measure what you use

  • Get a smart or half-hourly meter if you don't have one, so you can see your usage by the hour.
  • Look at your overnight usage. If it's high when the pub is closed, something is left on.
  • Submit regular readings to avoid estimated bills.

Frequently asked questions

What uses the most energy in a pub?

Cellar cooling and refrigeration, usually 25 to 35% of the total. In food-led pubs, the kitchen can match it.

What is the quickest way to cut a pub's energy bill?

Check your energy contract. If you're out of contract, moving to a competitive fixed deal is usually the biggest single saving.

Is LED lighting worth it for a pub?

Usually, yes. Bars and dining areas are lit for long hours, so the savings come through quickly.

Get your pub's energy checked

Send us a recent bill and we'll compare 15+ suppliers for free and tell you whether you're paying too much. Get a pub energy quote or call 0151 541 6767.