Exact date popular bar chain is set to close city centre site as punters say ‘that’s a shame’
A POPULAR bar chain is set to shut down a venue within weeks in a blow for punters.
All Bar One in Brighton city centre will be pulling its down the shutters for the last time.
The branch will be closing on September 7 due to its lease expiring.
Punters have been reacting to the news on social media, with many sad to see the bar go.
One said: “Brighton won’t be the same without Al Baroni’s.”
Another tagged their pal and wrote: “We need to go here before it shuts!”
A third commented: “Bl***y hell didn’t see that!”
A fourth posted: “That’s a shame. Used to be a good place back in the day.”
Elsewhere, Google reviews for the bar are glowing.
One describes it as “lovely” and others have said the “ambience is great”.
They said: “Food and drinks were superb. The staff were friendly and helpful.
“Ambiance was great and tables and chairs outside are the best place to be under the sun.. highly recommended.. we will definitely be back there soon..”
While another wrote: “We had our work drinks and dinner there and we couldn’t fault it. Considering the size of our group the service was attentive, friendly and speedy.”
The bar chain, which is owned by Mitchells and Butlers, has a total of 52 sites across the UK.
A spokesperson said the company is looking to move staff to other locations as possible.
They said: “We can confirm the All Bar One Brighton will close on Saturday, September 7, 2024. This decision has been taken after careful consideration and as part of the continual review of our estate.
“We would like to thank our loyal customers for their support and our wonderful All Bar One team who have worked so hard. We are in consultation with the team and we hope to redeploy as many employees as possible at our other nearby businesses.”
What is happening in the hospitality industry?
Food and drink chains in general have been suffering as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s closing branches.
Most recently, Revolution Bars Group has revealed to The Sun it will shutter 11 locations on August 11 as part of a major overhaul.
It added a further undisclosed site will close, or has already closed.
The chain currently operates 38 Revolution-branded sites across the UK.
Bars will welcome in guests for the final time in Blackpool, Chester and Norwich next month.
Plus, Premier Inn owner Whitbread is set to axe 1,500 jobs and close over 200 restaurants and pubs in the coming months.
Whitbread plans to slash its chain of branded restaurants across the UK in favour of building more hotel rooms.
Elsewhere, some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns announced plans in recent months to shut down 43 of its stores.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shutter the sites as part of major restructuring plans.
The brand also announced plans to close 20 loss-making restaurants after a “challenging” start to the year.
Britain’s biggest pub company, Stonegate, has raised fears about its survival as it races to plug its debts.
Stonegate owns 4,432 sites across the UK under the Slug & Lettuce, Be at One, Sports Bar & Grill brands and 350 traditional style pubs under its “Proper Pubs” banner.
How to save money eating out
THERE are a number of ways that you can save money when eating out. Here's how:
Discount codes – Check sites like Sun Vouchers or VoucherCodes for any discount codes you can use to get money off your order.
Tastecard – This is a members club where you pay to have access to discounts worth up to 50 per cent off at thousands of restaurants. It costs £4.99 a month or £34.99 for the year.
Loyalty schemes – Some restaurants will reward you with discounts or a free meal if you register with their loyalty scheme, such as Nando’s where you can collect a stamp with every visit. Some chains like Pizza Express will send you discounts for special occasions, such as your birthday, if you sign up to their newsletter.
Voucher schemes – Look out for voucher schemes offered by third party firms, such as Meerkat Meals. If you compare and buy a product through CompareTheMarket.com then you’ll be rewarded with access to the discount scheme. You’ll get 2 for 1 meals at certain restaurants through Sunday to Thursday.
Student discounts – If you’re in full-time education or a member of the National Students Union then you may be able to get a discount of up to 15 per cent off the bill. It’s always worth asking before you place your order.
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