Urgent appeal after Calor gas bottle shortage leaves outdoor drinkers shivering in Sheffield

Calor has issued a ‘one-for-one’ rule to retailers due to soaring demand from pubs and bars running patio heaters, and home barbecues.

The shortage could harm venues struggling to bounce back from lockdown which are only allowed to open outside.

In Sheffield last night, chilly customers outside a bar on Abbeydale Road were told the heater could not be switched on because they had run out of gas.

Louise Masters, of Fuel Masters on Barugh Green Road, Barnsley, appealed to people with a Calor gas bottle in their garage or caravan they weren’t using.

She added: “People are going out buying barbecues and patio heaters, but without a bottle we are unable to supply them with one.

“I have had a number of extremely frustrated customers, but my hands are tied.”

In a letter to vendors seen by The Star, Adam Taylor of Calor said supply had also been hit by ‘Covid challenges, increased global steel demand, delays in valve manufacturing and increased global shipping demand’.

He added: ‘Due to unprecedented demand and supply chain challenges, including delays to the delivery of new cylinders which are beyond our control, we have had to review the issuing of new cylinders across the range…all cylinders are now temporarily on a one-for-one basis and no new issues of cylinder refill agreements will be available until further notice. You and your customers must have a cylinder to return’.

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Thank you. Nancy Fielder, editor.