Cheers! Pub bosses hail Octopus Energy for free World Cup power

After England came third in the World Cup – the nation’s best men’s World Cup finish since 1966 – Britain’s pubs were among the biggest winners, saving over £30,000 on their energy bills through Octopus Energy’s ‘Watt a Save’ scheme.

More than 300 independent British pubs took part in the scheme, helping them cut costs while welcoming fans.

Like Happy Hour, but for power, ‘Watt a Save’ gave participating pubs free electricity between 7pm and midnight when England and Scotland played in the World Cup and venues were at their busiest. After proving so popular, Octopus extended the scheme to also include the final.

By the final whistle, participating pubs had used nearly 100,000 kWh of power during these free sessions – enough electricity to watch around 850,000 football matches on TV.

Some individual pubs saved hundreds of pounds throughout the tournament, giving them extra headroom to invest in staff, stock and creating the best possible matchday atmosphere for customers.

After huge popularity, the business is now looking to expand ‘Watt a Save’ to the Women’s World Cup next year too.

A recent YouGov survey found hospitality firms are feeling the squeeze on rising costs more than other sectors, with nearly three-quarters (74%) reporting a negative impact from energy costs over the past year.*

It comes as Britain’s pubs and other hospitality businesses are set for a tax break. The government announced a 20% cut to business rates, saving a typical pub around £1,100 next year**.

Zoisa North-Bond, CEO at Octopus Energy for Business, said: “Pubs are the heart of our communities, so it’s great to see the Government backing them with this latest business rates cut.

“Rising costs have hit hospitality hard, and every saving counts. We’re proud to be doing our bit too – from our ‘Watt a Save’ free electricity scheme in the World Cup to smart time-of-use tariffs that help businesses lower their energy bills. The more money pubs can keep in their pockets, the better.”

Allen Simpson, CEO of UK Hospitality, said: “The World Cup has been a massive hit for pubs. 5.5 million pints were sold in the group games alone, and the ‘Watt a Save’ scheme helped pubs make that happen. Energy is a big part of the cost mix for the sector, so massive thanks to Octopus for being part of the team.”

Paul Harwood, owner of Birmingham Brewing Company Tap Room, says: “The World Cup has been so important for the pub industry. It was a time where we knew we were going to get higher footfall with people spending more money. We’ve saved hundreds on energy bills through the ‘Watt a Save’ initiative, but have made thousands more by being able to get a second screen and open on extra days. It’s been a huge boost to the business.”

Declan Perkins, owner of Clissold Park Tavern, The Lauriston and The Regent pubs in London, said: “The World Cup has been one of our busiest times and it has meant hiring extra staff and increased drinks deliveries to meet this huge demand as fans turned out in massive numbers. As we’ve focused on giving our customers a brilliant experience, free electricity has been a real help.”

Will Raymond, who runs the Hare and Hounds said: “Running a pub means there is always something switched on. We have refrigeration running, the kitchen is electric, and when the football’s been on, more people have been coming through the door. It’s been good to have support like this ‘Watt a Save’ scheme during big matches. Anything that helps with electricity costs while pubs are hosting football fans is welcome.”

Beyond the World Cup, some pubs could benefit from cheaper electricity all year round through flexible time-of-use tariffs. As a lot of hospitality businesses tend to use energy in the evenings when electricity is cheaper, they could naturally make savings.

Octopus Energy’s Shape Shifters: Trio offers lower electricity prices between 7pm and midnight and has helped businesses save an average of 7.5% on their annual bills. Shape Shifters: Agile goes even further with electricity prices updated every 30 minutes to reflect wholesale prices, rewarding those able to flex their energy use into the cheapest times.