Struggling restaurants hit by high costs

RESTAURANT owners are struggling to survive as spiralling wage, tax and insurance costs endanger the industry, it was claimed yesterday.

John McKenna, who yesterday launched the 15th edition of his Bridgestone 100 Best Restaurants in Ireland, said: “Everyone thinks restaurant owners make a lot of money but they don’t. They work with really tight margins.”

Several high-profile restaurants have closed in recent weeks, including the award-winning Commons Restaurant on St Stephen’s Green and Duzy’s restaurant in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.