Ed Sheeran’s bar and diner Bertie Blossoms falls victim to Britain’s pub crisis as its debt rises to nearly £1.3million after struggling during Covid
Ed Sheeran’s bar and diner Bertie Blossoms faces financial strain amid UK pub crisis
Ed Sheeran’s upscale Notting Hill eatery, Bertie Blossoms, has emerged as a notable case within the ongoing challenges confronting Britain’s pub industry. The establishment, which has accumulated debt nearing £1.3 million, is now struggling to achieve profitability following the pandemic’s impact.
Bertie Blossoms, launched in September 2019 on Portobello Road, West London, has seen its fortunes decline. According to accounts filed in December, the business entity Dive Bar Portobello reported net current liabilities of £1.3 million as of late 2024. This marks a significant drop from December 2021, when the company’s assets had decreased by £763,000.
The restaurant has also undergone staff reductions, currently employing only five individuals, compared to six in 2023 and ten in 2020. In 2020, the venue was temporarily closed due to pandemic restrictions, and Sheeran opted to cover his team’s wages personally instead of utilizing furlough schemes.
“What a disappointment, the food options were limited. Which wouldn’t have been a problem if the quality wasn’t so poor,” remarked one patron. “You could see through to the kitchen. Which looked more like a roadside catering van. Food tasted similar. Everything was manufactured and if it couldn’t be deep fried it was over-boiled or fried. Looked like a good clean wouldn’t hurt either. Expensive for what tasted like a second-rate microwave meal and both the server and chef looked like a good wash wouldn’t hurt them either.”
Customers have criticized the restaurant’s pricing, particularly its £19 dishes, which were described as resembling low-quality microwave meals in 2023. Despite frequent menu changes, the establishment is known for offering items such as steak, pasta, and chocolate and prune brownies. Earlier menus featured just nine dishes, with the website highlighting that meals are “freshly prepared.”
Broader implications for UK pubs
As the pub sector continues to grapple with post-pandemic challenges, two closures occur daily. Reform UK has proposed measures to aid the industry, including reducing VAT to 10% for hospitality businesses if their party secures the next election. The plan would be funded by reintroducing the two-child benefit limit, excluding working families, and eliminating the employer national insurance increase for pubs.
The party also aims to cut beer duty by 10% and abolish business rates for all pubs. Lee Anderson, a Reform MP, criticized the previous parties for allowing the closure of thousands of pubs over the past decade. “The loss of one pub is not just the loss of livelihood for a landlord, or the loss of a local employment hub,” he stated. “It’s a loss to all of us as inheritors of a tradition dating back to Roman times. The Conservatives, and now Labour, have facilitated the crisis, and any contrition they show is false.”
Recent government efforts include a £100 million rescue package for landlords, extending opening hours and offering 15% business rate reductions in England. However, these measures have not prevented the recent imposition of a pub ban on Labour MPs, following Rachel Reeves’ announcement to end pandemic-era support. Reform UK argues their proposals would provide more substantial relief to the struggling sector.
