Tapas restaurant Monusk announces 'emotional' sudden closure

A popular tapas restaurant has announced its sudden closure after nearly five years in business. Monusk Tapas and Wine Bar in Newport has announced its immediate closure this week, having established itself as a popular destination on the city's food scene.

Located on Millennium Walk, Monusk, was opened by Finn Nesbitt in August 2017 serving Spanish-style tapas inspired by the trading routes in and out of Newport. Offering small plates of everything from meats and cheeses to fresh seafood, it had established a loyal customer base over the years and was notable for its idyllic location overlooking the River Usk.

While the reasons for its abrupt closure are not known, the restaurant confirmed this week it had closed its doors for good. In a message shared on its Instagram page on Tuesday, the restaurant said: "It's been emotional but sadly we're going to have to love you and leave you Newport. Wishing you all the very best. Thank you for some special times and incredible memories. We feel blessed to have shared these moments together."

Read more: The 25 best restaurants in Newport 2022: Brilliant places to eat in the city

As well as offering a varied menu of tapas, Monusk also offered a selection of Spanish wines, cocktails and craft beer and had recently held live music from a number of local artists. In past years it had regularly featured on lists of the best restaurants in Newport and south Wales.

Monusk offered great rivers over the river (Josh Knapman)

The news comes as the hospitality industry in Wales recently warned they face an uncertain future due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. Earlier this month traders told WalesOnline that soaring costs and a lack of staff were putting pressure on their business, with one saying they could even be forced to close down if the crisis doesn't ease. You can read more about the difficulties facing hospitality in Wales here.

A number of cafes and restaurants have already closed in Newport this year including Kettle Cafe, which announced "with a heavy heart" in April that it was closing its doors, and Villa Dino in Maindee which recently announced it would be closing after 37 years in business after its owners decided to retire.

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