U.K. residents have been dealing with a cost of living crisis in recent years that includes soaring prices to heat their homes during the winter. It turns out that not even high-end establishments are immune to those high costs.
Turkish restaurateur Nusret Gökçe, known more popularly as Salt Bae, has been operating one of his Nusr-Et steakhouses in London since 2021. His restaurants around the world are known for their astronomical prices, which at this location include a £700 ($883) steak for the most expensive option as well as a £680 ($858) wagyu strip loin or £630 ($795) tomahawk. As Britons struggle to make ends meet, however, the restaurant has slashed its prices and gotten rid of signature Nusr-Et offerings like the world-infamous £1,450 ($1,850) gold-covered steak.
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In financial records recently submitted to the U.K. government, Nusr-Et in London reportedly saw a 44-percent rise in pre-tax profits to almost £3.3 million ($4.1 million) in 2022, with total sales soaring nearly 66 percent to £13.6 million ($17.1 million). Still, despite business booming, the restaurant has been forced to cut costs in certain areas to maintain profits. This includes turning off the heat as energy bills spiral out of control.
Gökçe's restaurant group, according to The Guardian, "sought to improve energy efficiency at an operational level" through various means, including "turning off central heating after closing or during peak hours when heating demand is lower" and turning off all the lights after closing. It's all part of being "committed to operational efficiency," which includes renovating the spot to install LED lights and "energy-saving insulation."
If you have a reservation at Nusr-Et while you're in London, bundle up and don't expect the food to keep you warm.
