The owners of a Derry city bar have said they are “absolutely gutted” to announce its closure as a result of rising costs and stress.
The Grand Central Bar on Strand Road was established in 1922 and has evolved to become an institution in the area.
However, the owners said that “there’s no easy way” to state that the pub is closing, with the doors set to permanently shut this Friday.
“I’ve put it off for days because I genuinely don’t know what to say or how to say it,” wrote licensee Rachael Eastwood on social media.
“We’ve been fighting for a few years against rising costs for us and our punters. There doesn’t seem to be any give at all and to continue on would be detrimental to me and my family’s life.
“It’s very hard not to make this post highly emotional because quite simply it is.
“Eleven years of a rollercoaster of trading, craic and music. Scrolling through the photographs and posters from day one makes us proud and nostalgic but really flippin sad.
“To my regulars and staff, I’m so sorry and so grateful in equal measure. It really is a big family and I wish you all the best in finding your new territory.
“We will trade from today until Friday. I invite everyone to come down to the pub on Friday to have a drink with us and some food. I only want a positive and proud goodbye. We’ll have two floors of music going from 9pm. I’ll post more details when my eyes stop stinging.
“I’ll never forget the floods of people who came to support us when the doors opened on the 7th December 2012. Incredible considering I’m a blow in.
“Thank you to all the messages of support, to end this super dramatic post is a quote sent to me by the super sounder past manager that is Dan McGeady – ‘Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end’.
“Thank you Derry, I am absolutely gutted!”
