A much-loved York pub has shut without warning, leaving the publican and staff ‘beyond upset’.
A notice appeared on the door of the Last Drop Inn on Colliergate this evening saying: ‘We are permanently closed. Sorry for any inconvenience.’
Inside, the stools are still stacked on the tables.
This evening, manager Alex Higginson posted a heartfelt message on social media, on behalf of himself and deputy manager Shannon.
He wrote: “We are beyond upset. Our little pub, that we built from a shell of a building, has to close.
“We had no idea this was happening and so, we had no way of saying goodbye to our amazing, lovely customers, who have helped shape this building from a pub into a community.
“I have run pubs in the past. I have served the public and met the most lovely people in many of the pubs I have worked in. The Last Drop Inn was the first pub that I have felt at home in.
“To everyone who has passed through our doors: thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”
Alex, who reopened the pub after lockdown in October 2021, told YorkMix why it was shut so suddenly.
“The new owners have looked at our building, realised that a lot of the building is of no use to them, and decided that The Last Drop Inn is no longer an asset.
“We are absolutely gutted. We built the place from the building site it was post-Covid and made the place a special part of our lives. We put everything into that place and now it’s gone. Still struggling to come to terms with it!”
The Last Drop Inn was York Brewery’s first pub, opening in 2000. The brewery went into administration in 2018 and, with its pubs, was bought out by Masham’s Black Sheep Brewery days later.
However, last month Black Sheep Brewery said it was going to appoint administrators, later being bought out by the Breal Group investment firm.
The other remaining York Brewery pub affected by the deal, the Three Legged Mare on High Petergate, remains trading tonight.
In his message, Alex says: “I’m eternally grateful to Black Sheep Brewery for taking me on and for allowing me to bring my family to this pub as well.”
He paid tribute to assistant manager and the staff and added: “Thank you once again to every human being that has been close to The Last Drop Inn. I will really miss our little pub, and I know that plenty of you will miss it too.”
Regulars were shocked at the news. One said: “This is scandalous – the best pub in York!!! Absolutely gutted to hear this.”
Another said: “This is awful guys, am so sorry. One of the best pubs in York gone overnight.”
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