A CELEB-loved bar and restaurant chain Horticulture has suddenly shut all its locations with diners stunned to find it closed.
Newcastle‘s trendy Horticulture restaurant, its Whitley Bay sister site, and the popular El Guapo cocktail bar have all gone bust, leaving patrons gutted and bookings binned.
The shock closures happened over the weekend, with punters turning up to locked doors and no explanation.
Now, the director of the venues has finally confirmed the closures, blaming crippling costs and a tough time for the hospitality industry.
A spokesman said: “We are regretful to inform you that both Horticulture venues and El Guapo are currently closed.
“We are, at present, undertaking advice before deciding upon the next steps for the future. We will update in due course.”
It’s a sad end for the popular spots, known for their delicious food, buzzing atmosphere, and celebrity clientele.
Horticulture, famed for its stylish decor and outdoor terrace, had become a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike.
The city centre venue opened to great fanfare five years ago, soon getting a solid reputation for its amazing small plates food and its long list of espresso martinis.
It also attracted celebrity chefs including Si King of the Hairy Bikers.
During the night the venue would fill up with revellers to enjoy its cocktails and DJ tunes, played out across the bar area and suntrap outdoor terrace.
El Guapo, known for its vast margarita menu and tasty tacos, had only recently taken over from another bar.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Restaurant chain owned by Michelin-starred chef is on brink of collapse 16 years after it first opened” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6365575302112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Meanwhile, the Whitley Bay branch of Horticulture, opened in late 2024, was also tipped for success.
But the rising cost of everything from energy to ingredients proved too much for the businesses to bear.
It is just another blow to the North East hospitality scene, which has seen several big names go under in recent months.
Diners with bookings are understandably fuming, while staff are now facing an uncertain future.
The closures are a stark reminder of the challenges facing restaurants and bars in the current economic climate.
TROUBLE ON THE HIGH STREET
Plenty of other retailers are closing stores across the high street as households lean more towards online shopping and amid high business rates.
Soaring inflation in recent years has also dented shoppers’ pockets.
The Centre for Retail Research’s latest analysis suggests 13,479 stores, the equivalent of 37 each day, shut for good in 2024.
Of those, 11,341 were independent shops while 2,138 were shut by larger retailers.
The data also showed over half the stores that closed last year were shut due to the store or retailer going through insolvency proceedings.
[boxout headline=”What is happening to the hospitality industry?” intro=”By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter”]MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently 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.
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 is shutting down 43 of its stores soon.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.
This is when formal measures are taken to deal with tackling a business’s debt.
Retailers are also shutting stores in 2025.
New Look is ramping up a store closure programme ahead of April’s National Insurance hike.
Approximately a quarter of the retailer’s 364 stores are at risk when their leases expire.
This equates to about 91 stores, with a significant impact on its 8,000-strong workforce.