A RESTAURANT boss has called on the public to support independent businesses when they go out for anything from coffee to a full meal this winter.

Mark Cribb, who runs Urban Garden in Bournemouth town centre, said customers should think about which businesses they want to “make sure are still here” in the next couple of years.

His comments came ahead of Small Business Saturday, which will today rally people to support local independent traders.

Writing on Facebook, Mr Cribb said independent hospitality venues needed to use a lot of energy and had also seen some basic ingredients increase in price by more than 100 per cent in a year.

“With that backdrop in mind, could we just ask that if you do go out over the festive period, whether just for a coffee with a loved one, or a full-on Christmas cocktail and dining session, that you’ll try and prioritise independent venues,” he said.

“We all know the giant multi-national chains with shareholders and very deep pockets. Whilst their investors might not be fully happy, they’ll do OK and they have the resources to come out the other side of this.”

He pointed out that restaurant insolvencies have risen by 59 per cent in the past year.

Mr Cribb told the Daily Echo: “You’ve got massive food inflation and massive pressure on staff who need more cash.

“It’s not sustainable. There’s not going to be a hospitality business around long-term unless we can get through the short-term.”

He added: “What businesses do we want to make sure are still here over the next year or two? That’s really important.

“January and February are going to be absolutely horrible. You need to make enough in December to last through the January-February loss-making period. I hope by spring people can find a few quid for a cold pint in the bar in the sunshine.

“I’m optimistic but we need to get enough in the coffers to last through the winter as best we can.”

Another Dorset hospitality industry figure recently warned that closures were “inevitable” this winter and that the industry needed a VAT reduction from the government.

Andy Lennox, who runs the Zim Braai and Nusara restaurants and set up the pressure group Wonky Table, said last month: ”I think it’s more about saving what’s left than being able to save people this side of Christmas.

“We’re seeing more closures this year than we saw during Covid.”