Pubs, cafes and restaurants across Nottinghamshire have been forced to close their doors for good. Trying to recover from the pandemic, only to be hit by spiralling costs is an on-going headache for hospitality owners and for some it's been impossible to carry on.
Some have sold up, saying they want to spend more time with their families. Other spots remain empty with the shutters down and little hope of being taken over in the current climate.
The cost of living crisis means food and drink lovers are having to tighten their belts and are visiting their favourite establishments less often. In the meantime, business owners are struggling with higher energy bills and the rising price of supplies.
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Saturday, October 15, was a sad day for Masala Junction, an award-winning Indian restaurant in Carrington, that would serve its final customers after seven years. The owner said the challenges of the latest few years had been unrelenting and rising costs were forcing them out.
"Although our amazing team has worked hard overcoming the unforeseen trials facing our industry during and post pandemic, the cost of running a restaurant has nevertheless sky rocketed. With the weight of continued price increases on our minds and the fact that we don't wish to outprice our guests either, it's with a heavy heart that we've made the decision to close our doors," they announced on social media.
Here's some of the recent casualties that have closed their doors since the start of 2022:
Crafty Crow
The dog-friendly pub, opposite the gateway Nottingham Castle, began the year with bad news, calling time for good. The owners blamed tough trading conditions during the pandemic.
Magpie Brewery opened the pub in Friar Lane in 2014 and it instantly became draw for real ale buffs. It championed British artisan producers, brewers, vintners and distillers.
They said the difficult decision to close had been made with "great sadness" after a challenging couple of years. The property is currently on the market, with an annual rent of £40,000.
Holy Cannoli
The friendly cafe closed its doors for good on September 24 after four years in Plains Road, Mapperley. The cafe was known for its "hot chocolate to die for" and "the best sausage rolls ever" as well as breakfast, cakes, milkshakes, paninis and, of course, cannoli, the Italian pastries filled with cream that inspired the name.
The owners posted on Facebook: "A message to all of our wonderful customers. We want to extend our thanks to all the loyal customers who have supported us over the years we’ve been open.
"This fantastic journey wouldn’t have been possible without you all, however, after sincere thought and consideration, we have made the decision to close our doors. If anyone wants to keep in touch, feel free to talk to any of the staff before we close. Thank you for the last four years."
Kelly's Cafe
For 20 years Kelly's Cafe served up breakfasts but a cafe had been in that location for many more years. Parker's Cafe was at Abbey Street, Lenton in the 1990s.
Rising costs meant it was no longer viable. There's a limit on how much prices can be increased before people simple refuse to pay.
Customers, including labourers working in the area and staff at a nearby school were gutted when it closed at the end of June. They had been hoping that a new proprietor would step in as there's no where else to go in the area but so far the shutters remain down.
The Bakehouse
The cafe marked an expansion by the owners of the venue in Sherwood, when it opened in Carlton Street, Hockley, in July. There had been significant transformation of the former barber's shop to create a bright, airy environment.
Customers could sit in for coffee and cake or buy a loaf of sourdough to take home, all baked at the Sherwood shop. There was also a section dedicated to local producers, selling the wares of Sauce Shop, Bird & Blend tea and Black Iris' craft beers.
But it was short-lived. The Hockley site suddenly closed with no warning nor explanation after just a few weeks. In August the property was taken back by the landlord and the lease was forfeited. Later that week it went on the market. Not long afterwards the owners of The Bakehouse in Sherwood announced they were quitting so they could have more family time.
Carriages
There was great sadness when a cafe that provided a lifeline to vulnerable people during the Covid pandemic was forced to close after going into liquidation. Carriages Cafe was loved by customers for its breakfasts and afternoon tea served in a nostalgic steam punk setting.
Even before the lockdowns of 2020, it did its bit by running a regular community cafe providing a three-course meal for just £3 for those who were most at need. But it become a tour de force during the pandemic, providing hundreds of two-course meals to make sure the most vulnerable and isolated didn't go hungry during the crisis.
The cafe opened in 2017 after a £500,000 makeover of a former Victorian ticket office and waiting rooms on the platform of Newark Castle railway station. The building, which had been a wine bar, was in a state of disrepair but it was brought back to life by Wendy Baird and her daughter Abigail.
In June they announced the sudden closure on Facebook, saying: "It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Carriages Cafe. A 'perfect storm' of events have forced us into liquidation and today we locked the door for the very last time. Thank you for your love and support over the past six years."
Golden Ocean
The extortionate rise in energy bills is making it impossible for a Chinese takeaway in Sneinton to continue. After more than 20 years in Carlton Road, the Golden Ocean has announced it will be closing for good.
Owner Yet Cheng faces a £6,000 energy bill at the start of November - a 500 percent increase. The takeaway will close on Christmas Eve - if they make it that far.
Yet said they are "upset" by the decision but have no choice, adding government intervention is the only thing that could keep the takeaway alive.
Feed Me! Fully Loaded
The vegan cafe, which took inspiration from the Little Shop of Horrors, had planned to shut late autumn but brought forward the closing date to September 11. After a two-year stint Joanna and Lee Benfield said farewell to the colourful little location in Lilac Crescent, Beeston Rylands, where they specialised in vegan junk such as pancakes, loaded hotdogs and desserts with theatrical and film names.
They said the closure followed much deliberation after the lease approached renewal. Joanna said: "Although the business is doing great, we are not sure this is the right thing for us long term and we would much rather celebrate what we have achieved and close on a high!"
"I had no idea that my crazy, colourful and theatrical place would have had the impact that it has had. I'm truly, truly thankful for all the love and support and I genuinely am going to miss you all! You all feel like friends to me now."
Crafty Teller
It is hoped that it's just a temporary blip but the Sherwood pub closed after it was put on the market. The family friendly bar and kitchen opened in 2018 following a makeover to create plush contemporary surroundings with eye-catching graffiti artwork on the walls.
The contemporary-style pub served barista-style coffee, cocktails, craft ales and food, from breakfasts and burgers to Sunday roasts. By all accounts it was highly regarded and praised for food, cocktails and service.
The proprietor said they were stepping away with "a heavy heart," adding: "The last few years have been difficult for everyone and we have decided to change our lifestyle and give ourselves a bit of a much needed rest."
Cheff
The award-winning healthy burger takeaway came to the end of a three-year run earlier this year. Owner Adam Sinnott had served the Lady Bay community Clean Beef Burgers and Naked Katsu Burgers from the shop in Trent Boulevard.
During his stint he celebrated winning Business of the Year in the Celebrating Rushcliffe Awards 2021, supported vulnerable people in the community, and worked with Nottingham Forest and Trent Bridge. Adam said it had been a tough decision to close the doors but after "three amazing years" it was time to move on.
Hand & Heart
Again, it could just be temporary but no one really knows what's happening at the pub which is one of the oldest in Nottingham and set in sandstone caves. The curtains are closed the business hasn't operated since July.
Regulars are in the dark wondering if it will reopen after a series of hiccups over the last two years over staffing and Covid cancellations. The last update on Facebook simply said: "Sorry we are currently closed and do not yet have a reopening date."
Over in Derbyshire:
The Factory Kitchen
There was shock and dismay amongst food lovers when the 60-seater fine dining restaurant in Mundy Street suddenly closed its doors in June after five years. With rising prices and customers unable to eat out as often as they used to it was a Catch-22 situation.
Kevan Pierrepont, who ran it with his wife Jane, said: "The rising costs and the drop in customer numbers with people having less to spend was a bit too much for us. It was pretty drastic too. The gas and electric bill for the quarter was £11k and we used to pay around £12k per year.
"We stayed open for an extra month really to allow the staff to find other positions which went pretty well. It was important to us as they are mostly either family or felt like family. If we were younger we might have had the inclination to invest more and adapt or if the business had had more time to get established (we were only two-and-a half-years-old when Covid struck) things might be different but I wasn’t looking to go much past 60 which is next year."
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