Navigating the Current UK Energy Landscape: What Pubs & Restaurants Must Know in 2026
Running a pub or restaurant has always been demanding but right now, many operators are grappling with one challenge above all: energy. Not just the cost of powering kitchens and fridges, but new regulations, compliance deadlines, and sustainability expectations that can feel overwhelming.
At Emissis, we help hospitality businesses tackle these challenges head-on, reducing energy waste, cutting costs, and ensuring you stay compliant without compromising service.
The Changing Regulatory Landscape: EPC & MEES
One of the biggest shifts affecting pubs and restaurants is the tightening of energy performance standards for commercial properties.
- All commercial buildings including pubs, bars, and restaurants must hold a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and meet minimum efficiency standards.
- From April 2027, the minimum EPC rating for commercial buildings will be Band C.
- This will rise further to Band B by April 2030.
- Failure to meet these requirements could result in significant fines (up to around £150,000 for serious breaches).
These rules come from the UK’s Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), designed to cut carbon emissions and improve building efficiency. While compliance is mandatory, early action can offer both cost savings and improved guest comfort.
Why This Matters for Hospitality
Hospitality sites are inherently energy-intensive. Between refrigeration, HVAC, kitchen equipment, lighting, and extraction systems, your energy demand is high and so are your bills. Combined with rising wholesale energy prices and regulatory pressure, this creates a perfect storm for operational costs.
Government-backed schemes are trying to help. For example, recent initiatives offer free energy and carbon-reduction advice to hundreds of hospitality SMEs, saving millions collectively and supporting businesses to cut waste.
Advice alone isn’t enough if you don’t take action. That’s where practical, technology-driven optimisation comes in.
What You Can Do Now: Practical Steps for Pubs & Restaurants
Whether you’re a pub or a busy restaurant kitchen, these steps will help with both compliance and cost control:
Get a Current EPC and Understand Your Rating
If your business doesn’t already have a recent EPC, now’s the time. Use it as a roadmap for improvements. It identifies where you’re losing energy and what upgrades make the biggest difference.
Prioritise Energy Efficiency Investments
Simple, high-impact measures can deliver real savings:
- LED lighting upgrades
- Improved insulation and draught proofing
- Efficient extraction and HVAC optimisation
Optimise Critical Systems with Technology
At Emissis, our patented enPact™ range targets the biggest energy users in hospitality: refrigeration, voltage quality, HVAC, and waste consumption. These technologies deliver measured efficiency gains without changing your service or equipment footprint.
Monitor & Track Progress
Ongoing visibility into energy usage and carbon emissions helps you stay on track with compliance deadlines and sustainability goals, and gives you confidence in your decision-making.
Look Beyond Compliance: Sustainability as a Strategic Advantage
Customers today increasingly value sustainability. An energy-efficient pub or restaurant not only meets regulations but also boosts brand appeal and reduces operating risk in an uncertain energy market.
By tackling energy waste now, you’re not just avoiding fines – you’re protecting margins, future-proofing your business, and contributing to broader community wellbeing.
How Emissis Can Help
At Emissis, we partner with hospitality operators to:
- Cut energy costs by 7-15% or more depending on the site’s energy consumption.
- Improve building performance ahead of regulatory deadlines.
- Provide live energy monitoring and verification.
- Support long-term sustainability and Net Zero plans.
Whether you’re just starting your energy-efficiency journey or looking to fine-tune existing efforts, we can help you turn regulation into opportunity.
Final Thought
The energy landscape for pubs and restaurants in the UK is changing and fast. Instead of waiting until the compliance deadlines loom, take proactive steps now. Align your operations with regulatory expectations, lower your energy spend, and make sustainability a competitive advantage.
Ready to take the next step?
Contact Emissis today to learn how we can help your business thrive in this new energy era.
