This year has already been a difficult one for businesses, with new challenges to face as the cost of living crisis continues.
The rising cost of everything including staffing, ingredients and energy bills has seen hospitality businesses across the country struggle and unfortunately, some have been unable to survive.
This year several pubs and restaurants in Liverpool have sadly closed, with venues still suffering the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Below, we’ve taken a look at some of the most beloved pubs and restaurants we have sadly lost this year.
Lerpwl
In March, the owners of Lerpwl, on the Albert Dock, announced its closure after claiming their landlord demanded a £30,000 payment in a dispute over pandemic rent debt. Liverpool-born brothers Liam and Ellis Barrie opened Lerpwl's doors in 2020 after gaining a glowing reputation in the hospitality industry.
Speaking about the closure, Liam said: "It cannot continue that the Lerpwl team over-reach to meet our standards of delivery only for the revenue created to be absorbed in the legal entanglement. The losses incurred in the initial phase of launching, having been delayed and disrupted by Covid, depleted vital resources and hindered the ability to react to the different obstacles faced in the periods since.
"The menus, team setup and formation have been restructured time and time again to navigate the multiple challenges that hospitality has faced since March 2020. Ultimately the business has never fully recovered."
A spokesperson for CBRE Investment Management said: "We manage the commercial element of Royal Albert Dock on behalf of our client and decisions made are as a result of our asset management, not our client’s.
"We recognise that restaurateurs have endured a very difficult time as a result of the Pandemic and we have worked with all our tenants to help them navigate that incredibly challenging environment with rent-free periods, structured repayment plans and, where appropriate, helping them to access government support.
"It is in our interest to work with our tenants to help them thrive. We always aim to collaborate, negotiate and compromise, but for this to be successful, a similar approach needs to be adopted by the other side."
READ MORE: Liverpool restaurant Lerpwl announces sudden closure
The Beehive
A Liverpool city centre institution, The Beehive on Paradise Street closed in February as long-serving landlady Frances Lloyd decided not to renew her lease. As a result, brewery Greene King chose to reimagine the traditional pub so it could "reach its full potential".
Landlady Frances told the ECHO she was "gutted" to be leaving the popular pub, after being unable to carry on behind the bar after a series of devastating personal setbacks. In 2020, her husband died of covid after working alongside her for years.
Then, she suffered a stroke leaving her "physically unable" to complete many of the manual tasks often required in a pub, and bar work in general. Frances, 65, said: "If I hadn't been ill or lost my husband, I would never have given up my lease. My husband died of covid - right at the beginning - and doing the pub on my own after all those years together was really hard going.
"Then, dealing with the stress of all that, I think led to the stroke. I would never have left ever, I would have got another lease. I haven't got the strength anymore otherwise I would still be behind that bar.
"I see my staff doing it and I'm not physically able to join in or help them do it anymore which hurts - that's the reason I'm getting out. It's going from me to another couple - it's not going to be a traditional pub as such, they're moving with the times. It's not my pub, it's Greene King's so I don't get a say in it."
READ MORE: The Beehive pub confirms closing date
The Refinery
In June, the owners of The Refinery, on Hope Street, announced its closure after seven years with “bittersweet emotions”. The Refinery opened its doors in 2016, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Taking to Facebook, they wrote: “To all our friends! It's with a mix of bittersweet emotions that we announce the permanent closure of The Refinery Bar and Kitchen on Hope Street, Liverpool on June 12th.
“Let's make this last week memorable and celebrate the good times together – swing by and enjoy the amazing food and drinks before we bid farewell!”
READ MORE: Liverpool restaurant The Refinery announces closure with 'bittersweet emotions' after seven years
Clockworks
The team at Clockworks in Wolstenholme Square announced ‘with a heavy heart’ in January that they could no longer make Clockworks a sustainable business in the ‘current climate’. The closure was confirmed on the restaurant’s social media platforms and met with much sadness from customers, with some calling it the ‘best in Liverpool’.
Clockworks opened back in early 2017 in a 200-year-old building in a corner of the city’s Ropewalks area, which used to house superclub Cream.
A post on Clockworks Instagram and Facebook said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to cease trading. We want to thank all of our customers new and old who spent their time with us, your support from the beginning has made this entire venture worthwhile and we thank you dearly for all of your custom and friendship.
“Unfortunately recent hardships have finally caught up and we can no longer make Clockworks a sustainable business in this current climate. Thank you to the staff, you have put the business first on countless occasions and shown a first class attitude in every aspect.
“You are a genuine credit to the hospitality industry. It was a pleasure working with you all. For now, the clocks have stopped.”
READ MORE: Liverpool restaurant serving 'epic food' closes after six years
The Phoenix
The Phoenix in Southport served its final drink in January as they thanked customers for their support over the years saying "we couldn’t" have got "this far without you all."
In a statement, The Phoenix said: "As you all may have heard by now it is with heavy hearts and tears in our eyes, we will be closing our doors after this weekend. We would love to thank all our customers for your support over the years we couldn’t have gotten this far without you all."
They continued: "We will miss you all from all at The Phoenix."
READ MORE: Pub announces with a 'heavy heart' that it will be closing down
The Beijing Restaurant
The Beijing Restaurant, on Eccleston Street in Prescot announced its closure in June after 30 years in business. The restaurant, which was one of the longest-standing businesses in the town centre, said the decision was due to the fact the owner is retiring.
The team said it is "with sadness" that they made the announcement, but thanked their loyal customers who have "become friends" over the last three decades. Their message on social media read: "After nearly 30 years of business in Prescot town centre, it is with great sadness that I must inform you that the Beijing Restaurant will close from the 5th June Monday Onwards.
"This is due to the owner retiring. It has been our absolute pleasure to serve our loyal customers, old and new.
"Many of our customers have become friends and the success of the business has been built on providing the best Chinese food possible in a warm and welcoming environment. Thank you for your custom over the past 30 years. Best wishes George and Dave and all the staff at the Beijing Chinese restaurant."
READ MORE: Chinese restaurant announces closure after 30 years
Elephant Bank
Elephant Bank, part of the Elephant Collective, in Neston, shut its doors in June due to "the burden of the ever-increasing expenses". The restaurant first opened in 2016 and was named the UK's Best Independent Pizzeria by the Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food Association UK in 2018.
The owners said they were devastated to say farewell and thanked customers who has supported them though the last seven years. Posting to social media they said: "We are absolutely devastated to be writing these words.
"After seven years in the heart of Neston, we're bidding farewell to Elephant Bank. We still remember the day we first opened our doors to our restaurant, brimming with excitement with a burning passion for creating a space where local people could gather, share delicious food and create long lasting memories.
"The decision to close Elephant Bank was not an easy one. It was a culmination of sleepless nights, soul-searching conversations and the sad realisation that we could no longer withstand the burden of the ever-increasing expenses. It is a decision we never thought we'd have to make, but the challenges within the restaurant industry, which have been increasing every month since the pandemic, have now left us with no other choice.
"We've been reflecting on all of the brilliant memories we've created together - from witnessing those awkward first dates, families celebrating milestones and friends reuniting over plates of food. We just wanted to say thank you to all of you who have supported us since we first opened the doors to Elephant Bank.
"All of our other sites - Elephant Coffee Neston, Elephant Lounge Parkgate and Elephant Outpost Cheshire Oaks remain open as usual, and Elephant continues to be a growing company with exciting plans in the works. Elephant Bank is, unfortunately, closing its doors immediately from this evening.
"To those of you with reservations, we will be in touch in the coming days. Please just give us a little bit of time to get in touch with you all. Much love Elephant"
READ MORE: Owners announce immediate closure of restaurant after 'sleepless nights'
Fraiche
In April, Fraiche closed down and left Merseyside for the West Midlands. Fraiche, based in Oxton, was hailed as a gem in the region's culinary crown, and was even named in the prestigious Harden's Best UK Restaurants 2023 guide.
Patron chef Marc Wilkinson took to social media to confirm he was packing up and "evolving" Fraiche by setting up in "the stunning countryside of Shropshire".
Marc thanked patrons for their support, and expressed hope that some may "venture down" to the new venue in the summer. He said: "The menu style will continue at the same high standards, the chef and of course octopus and the moon will be reassuringly familiar to you and unfortunately you will still have to suffer Prince on the playlist."
READ MORE: 'Big loss' to Wirral as Fraiche restaurant confirms closure
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