#economic-pressures

#economic-pressures

It's impossible to say how many firsts were had within the walls of G-A-Y Bar on Old Compton Street. An innumerable number of LGBTQ+ people, young and old, will have flocked there from far and wide over the years to have perhaps their first experience of a gay bar, maybe even their first alcoholic drink, as well as their first taste of a different, brighter, queerer life.

Unfortunately, due to ongoing building issues outside of our control, we have to say goodbye to this location.

Berlin, long hailed as one of the world's great party cities, is fighting to keep its famed techno clubs alive in the face of soaring prices, shifting tastes and a tightening property market. For now, the mood is exuberant at Renate, a labyrinthine club with multiple DJs housed in a dimly-lit complex near the Spree river, a Berlin institution which recently celebrated its 18th birthday.

This summer, however, the 12-day war in June between Israel and Iran shook the city and its cultural life. The conflict and lingering fears of its recurrence have battered the country's already crumbling economy, driving up inflation. Art sales slowed as collectors tightened their purse strings, while rising costs, nearly daily electricity outages and water shortages added new pressures.

Asha Wheeldon faced numerous challenges, including COVID-19 and inflation, while striving to maintain her mission of achieving net zero emissions with Kula Foods.

Economic pressures are reshaping consumer behavior, influencing trends in on-premise consumption. Bars and QSRs are experiencing growth, while premium bars are declining.

61% of SMEs believe that focusing on employee welfare and sustainability is critical to long-term success, despite experiencing economic challenges.

Several former employees described the layoff as abrupt and a surprise, with the reason cited as a shaky economy impacting the company's bottom line.