What To Do When Your Electrics Fail at 2am
Your fridges have gone quiet. The emergency lights have kicked in. Guests are asking questions you can't answer yet.
Electrical failures don't check your calendar first. Whether you're running a hotel in Guildford, a restaurant in Croydon, or a pub in Kingston, knowing what to do in those first few minutes can make the difference between a minor disruption and a major loss.
Step one – check if it's just you
Look outside. Are the streetlights on? Can you see lights in neighbouring buildings? If everything around you is dark, it's likely a power cut affecting your area. Check your local network operator's website or call 105 (the national power cut number) to report it and get an estimated fix time.
If everyone else has power and you don't, the problem is on your side.
Step two – check your fuse board
Head to your main distribution board. Has a circuit breaker tripped? If a single switch has flipped, try resetting it. If it trips again immediately, leave it off. Something on that circuit is causing the fault, and forcing it back on could make things worse.
If the main switch has tripped or multiple circuits are down, don't attempt to reset anything. Call a qualified electrician.
Step three – protect your stock
For hospitality venues, the clock starts ticking the moment your fridges and freezers lose power. Keep the doors closed. A fully stocked commercial freezer can hold its temperature for around 24-48 hours if you don't open it. A fridge is more like 4-6 hours.
Make a note of the time the power went out. You'll need this for insurance purposes and food safety records.
Step four – keep guests safe and informed
If you have guests on site, let them know what's happening. Check that emergency lighting is working in corridors and stairwells. If it isn't, or if you have any safety concerns, consider whether you need to evacuate.
Keep torches accessible at reception and behind the bar. Sounds obvious until you're the one fumbling in the dark.
Step five – call for help
If you can't identify and fix the problem yourself, you need an emergency electrician. When you call, be ready to tell them:
What happened and when
Whether any circuit breakers have tripped
What equipment was running when the power went out
Whether you can smell burning or see any damage
This helps the engineer arrive prepared with the right parts.
Why electrical failures happen in hospitality venues
Commercial kitchens and bars put serious demand on electrical systems. Overloaded circuits, ageing wiring, faulty equipment, and water ingress are all common culprits. We've attended call-outs across Surrey and South London where the root cause was something as simple as a dodgy fryer or as serious as rodent damage to cables.
Regular electrical testing helps catch problems before they become emergencies. But when something does go wrong at 2am on a Saturday, you need someone who answers the phone.
24/7 emergency call-outs across Surrey and London
Medlec Group provides round-the-clock emergency electrical support for pubs, restaurants, hotels, and leisure venues across Surrey and South London. Our engineers carry extensive spare parts and aim for a first-time fix wherever possible.
We've restored power to kitchens on Christmas Eve, kept hotels running during weddings, and got restaurants back open for their breakfast service.
Call our 24/7 emergency line on 0333 344 5949. We'll talk you through what to check while our engineer is on the way.
