A couple have shut down their bar after losing an eye-watering £250,000 on two failed businesses.
Ray and Sandra have permanently pulled down the shutters of The Old Post Office in Fenton after being offered to run another pub in Alsager.
The husband and wife spent £80,000 refurbishing the Christchurch Street venue before its official opening in April 2019, Birmingham Live reports.
Trade had been good before the Covid pandemic hit, but was never able to fully recover afterwards, they said.
The pair previously owned The Brindley's Lock, in Packmoor, and Piccadilly Brasserie, in Hanley, as well as a restaurant in Cyprus.
They estimate that they lost £70,000 on the Fenton bar after taking an £180,000 loss at Piccadilly Brasserie, forcing the pair to sell their home.
Now they are hoping to turn things around after being made the job offer.
Ray, 63, told StokeonTrentLive : "We were doing alright before lockdown. It has been quieter since but the custom is gradually coming back. The problem is our age. We are too old to wait it out.
"We only have five or six years of work life and that is if our health stands out. We have had Covid twice.
"We re-opened last June and it has not been quite the same. We were offered a job by a friend and will start at a pub in Alsager later this summer.
"We have tried to sell this bar on and we have had a few people who have shown interest. We could stay here as long as we want. The landlord has been very good. It is just that this opportunity has made us think.
"We put in £80,000 to do it up. When we came back to open again there was a big flood that cost us more money.
"We have had some good times here. We have made some good friends. It was an emotional last weekend."
Ray said the pair lost around £180,000 when they ran the Piccadilly Brasserie in Hanley. He said: "The council would not help at all. We are walking away from here £70,000 down.
"We went to Cyprus and came back with some good money. We have got no savings left. We have put everything in we can.
"We lost one house with the Piccadilly Brasserie, we do not want to lose our Hartshill home."
Ray said he has never had any issues at any premises he has run. He said: "We took the Brindley's Lock from taking £500 a week to £15,000. We were tenants, rents were going up, beer was going up all the time, they just got greedy.
"I think every pub that has trouble, it is management issues. Every pub we have had, we have never had any trouble. If they are barred, they are barred for life. I won't have them back in again. Within a short time the locals get to know the standards and the rules.
"The idea behind this bar was to try to give the area somewhere comfortable and nice for the older clientele. At first they responded. We have said many a time we should have gone on the Hartshill mile.
"This was a right mess when we got it. It had a major flood and mushrooms were growing in it. It was absolutely sodden.
"We thought we were doing the right thing. It was the wrong decision. The right idea, in the wrong place.
"But we will miss it. There are some who have supported us as much as they possibly could and we really thank them. They have been really, really good to us.
"We have got no pension, we cashed them in to try and save the Piccadilly Brasserie. We can't just tick over and pay the bills. We have got to get some savings sorted.
"We will miss this bar. We have put our hearts and souls into it and we love it.
"I think England has changed. We went to live in Cyprus for six or seven years and had a restaurant out there and made an absolute fortune. If I was younger I would do the same again.
"But I also think this trade is dying. We would not tell our grandchildren to go self employed in this trade. It is a lot harder than people think. It is a lifestyle, not a job. You either love it or hate it.
"We would stay here but the offer we have been given has just made us realise it is better to let go of the self employment strings."
In a social media post to customers, Ray and Sandra said: "This weekend is our last weekend so can we say thank you very much for all the very special customers and now friends that have supported us over the last three years.
"We do have a new venture to look forward to. It is one we never thought could happen at our age but hard work and persistence, along with high standards to keep our customers safe and happy, always pays off. That's why we are now taking on a position that demands that.
"We love this little gem and will miss it. Here's to all the great nights we have had. We will miss you all."
