This year has been a difficult one for some, with new challenges to face and uncertainty becoming the norm.
The rising cost of everything including milk, bread, petrol and energy bills has seen people and businesses across the country struggle - and it is having a devastating impact on the hospitality sector. Rising costs have meant some businesses have sadly been unable to survive.
With some still trying to get back on their feet following the coronavirus pandemic, businesses across the country have struggled to remain a float, and sadly, many have already lost the battle. This year several pubs, bars and restaurants in Liverpool have closed.
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Below, we’ve taken a look at the shops, restaurants, bars and clubs we’ve lost this year. Let us know which ones you miss the most in the comments.
Baltic Social
Liverpool city centre bar and restaurant, The Baltic Social , had to close its doors "with a heavy heart" in August. The Parliament Street-based venue said that the "combination of trying to bounce back post Covid" coupled with "absolutely astronomical increases in energy, food and drink prices" led to the business closing after nine years.
In a message to fans on social media, the team wrote: "We have had a wild and joy filled ride over the last 9 years but like so many independent businesses, these last couple of years have been difficult beyond measure. We don't need to tell you how difficult this industry is at the best of times but a combination of trying to bounce back post covid combined with absolutely astronomical increases in energy, food and drink prices has meant that we are now closing the door for the very last time on what's been our happy and madhouse home for so long."
Frost Burgers
Much loved vegan restaurant Frost Burgers closed its doors on September 11. The Wood Street venue was known for its popular vegan burgers and had been open for four years.
An upstairs flood forced the restaurant to close for two months earlier in the year, before it had to shut its doors due to impact from the pandemic. Frost Burgers says it was forced to shut its Liverpool and Manchester branches as a result of rising food prices, increased VAT and soaring energy bills.
Manager Kriss Janmejis told the ECHO : "In general there's less people coming in. Obviously people are trying to save their own money. It is energy prices, food prices have gone up, oil has gone up by almost 100%."
Santa Chupitos
Slater Street cocktail bar, Santa Chupitos, permanently closed after 13 years after it was impacted by the Covid pandemic. The venue was known for its creative and elaborate cocktails, stylish design and relaxed atmosphere.
One of the bar's popular menu items was the Pulp Fiction inspired $5 Shake, which came served in a traditional glass milk bottle. John Ennis, director of Santa Chupitos, said: "We're really sad to see Santas go and have loved watching it evolve and welcome thousands of people since we opened in 2009.
“Since Covid, things have changed drastically for the hospitality industry - there's been a huge shift in clientele and we recognised that Santas wasn't trading the way it had done pre-Covid."
The Butterfly and The Grasshopper
The Butterfly & The Grasshopper, which was based on Oldham Street in the city centre, closed in August. The venue was forced to close "with a heavy heart", stating that it has "never been able to recover from the damage that Covid did."
In a statement on social media, the team wrote: "We built up an incredible reputation for a design, food and drink concept from day 1 that was put together and delivered by an incredibly talented team, but we've never been able to recover from the damage that Covid did to a fledgling business.
"The cost of the operation is now unfortunately too high and you will have noticed we had to regretfully close the kitchen and shorten our trading hours recently. And now we have reached the end, so we will raise a sad but grateful glass and thank all the wonderful staff and patrons that have been a family these past (almost) 3 years."
Boujee Restaurant and Bar
Boujee suddenly closed its doors in August, with signs appearing outside stating it was 'closed for business.' The venue was dubbed Liverpool's 'most instagrammable' restaurant when it first opened in 2020.
Set across two floors and covering around 9,600 sq ft, the restaurant featured a giant candy area, themed ‘pool party’ and ‘Alice in Boujeeland’ areas. In August, messages were placed in the restaurant's windows and on boards outside which stated: "Boujee is closed for business”. Another message said that the closure was “through no fault of Liverpool One”.
Vietnom
Popular Vietnamese restaurant Vietnom closed its doors on July 31. The Berry Street venue initially started out as a stall in the Baltic Market, which remains open.
The restaurant said they had been "fighting for survival" during the pressures of Covid and staff shortages and were now "facing massive inflations."
In a statement on Instagram stories, the team said: "We came to the conclusion that people won't remember us as individuals for the millions of hours we work, how busy we are and how stressed out we are as people. But people will remember us for playing a role in their lives, how we make them feel and the energy we present."
The team added that it had been "an absolute pleasure and whirlwind of a journey opening our own place". They also praised customers for pulling them through "some of the hardest times" and thanked their "genuinely gorgeous staff".
Berrington’s
Berrington’s on Smithdown Place closed its doors in June after the venue confirmed the news on social media. The venue said it was with “immense sadness” that they would close - and said the closure was due to the "current climate".
Berrington's first opened in 2020 replacing Neon Jamon and built a reputation for serving the “best steak in Liverpool”. The team’s new venture, an Italian restaurant called Piccola, would open on Smithdown Place offering fresh pasta, small plates and a spritz bar. Piccola opened in July.
Tribeca
Smithdown Road bar and pizzeria Tribeca closed its doors in February. The venue was well known for its extensive cocktail and beer offerings, as well as its much-loved pizzas.
After much speculation on the bar's future, Tribeca took to social media to confirm "all the rumours are true", and it would be shutting up shop. The news wasn’t all bad though, with Tribeca confirming refurbishment is underway on a "new neighbourhood pub" The Crafty Swine, which opened at the end of February.
Home Bargains, Lord Street
Home Bargains on Lord Street in Liverpool closed its doors in July. The store closed suddenly, with its windows boarded up and the brand's signs removed from the building.
A Home Bargains spokesperson told the ECHO: "The lease on our Lord Street store has expired recently and when reviewing our business we felt that as we have three other busy stores in this area, that we are serving our city centre customers very well.
"We will always be fiercely committed to serving our loyal customers in our home town and more broadly in Merseyside. We will continue to open new shops in this region, such as our developments at Edge Lane and Kirkby in the last year or so."
Too Faced
Global beauty brand Too Faced closed its doors for good in July after almost three years in the city. The store was the retailer's North West flagship site.
The windows of the Liverpool ONE store were boarded up with signs confirming the closure. Signs read: "We're sorry to say this store has closed. But it's not goodbye! You can shop with us online at: www.toofaced.co.uk ".
Rennie’s, Bold Street
Family run Rennies Gallery closed its doors across Merseyside in August, after almost 60 years in business. The gallery was founded by Ronald and Jean Rennie in 1965, with several locations across Liverpool, St Helens and Wirral.
The couple, along with their son Duncan, opened the Bold Street store in 1991 and remained there until August 2022. With its other locations also winding up, Duncan said, despite attempts to downsize to a smaller outlet, Rennies would be closing its doors for good.
Tessuti, Peter's Lane
Tessuti, famed for its array of designer collections and streetwear goodies, closed its doors on Peter's Lane this year. The retailer, which has operated a store on Peter's Lane since 2013, closed the venue in order to open its largest store yet in Liverpool ONE.
A huge new flagship Tessuti store opened on Paradise Street in Liverpool ONE in August. The former Tessuti unit is set to be taken over by trainer and streetwear store Size? soon.
Mrs Danvers Cafe
Gildart Street-based venue Mrs Danvers Café announced via social media in November that it would close after Christmas. The café is located in the Port of Liverpool building and is known for serving grazing and buffet platters as well as afternoon teas.
In a statement posted on the café's Twitter page, the business cited the challenges of the pandemic and a reduction in orders as the reasons behind the decision to close.
The Old Hardware Shop, Woolton
The Old Hardware Shop, based on Woolton Street, closed its doors in November, after eight years in business. The venue was a beloved vegan destination with an extensive menu.
It served a variety of breakfasts, sandwiches, hot dogs, and more, as well as sweet treats including cakes, milkshakes and desserts. The restaurant had been closed while the team were on maternity and paternity leave, but they have since confirmed it will not be reopening as initially planned.
A statement on Instagram read: "Hello everyone, we were hoping to end our maternity and paternity leave and open back up this month, just in time for our eighth birthday.
"But unfortunately due to various reasons, we aren't able to continue here at the Old Hardware Shop, but hope to see you all if we find another location in the future.
"We have absolutely loved our time here and we will cherish the memories and friends we have made over the last eight years. We hope you all remember us as fondly as we will remember you. Goodbye for now."
Mani, Lark Lane
Mani on Lark Lane closed its doors in October 2022 after just a year in business. The Italian bar and kitchen served a range of Italian small plates alongside a selection of wines, cocktails and beers, and was praised for its great service and staff.
Posting on Instagram, the team at Mani said: "We are very sad to announce the closure of our beautiful Italian restaurant! Mani will be closing its doors on the 30.10.22! We hope to see a lot of new and old faces before this date. All our love Mani."
Maray, Allerton Road
In November, Maray announced on Instagram it would be closing its Allerton Road store will immediate affect. The independent business had been serving people in the area for the last six years, but announced they needed to "put resources where they are needed most, which in this case is Bold Street and Albert Dock in Liverpool city centre, and our recently opened site in Manchester."
A statement on Instagram said: "After 6 years in the leafy suburbs, we are bidding farewell to Maray Allerton Road. We love Allerton, but the time has come to put our resources where they are needed the most, which in this case is our Bold Street and Albert Dock restaurants in Liverpool city centre, and our recently opened site in Manchester.
"Allerton has been a wonderful home to Maray for the last six years, it was our second site and we have made many memories here and developed a close network of regulars that we will miss dearly. Our other Liverpool sites remain open as usual, and Maray continues to be a growing company with exciting plans for 2023.
"Maray Allerton is closed immediately. Any guests with upcoming reservations - we’ve got in touch x"
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