Concerns have been raised after a York pub shut without warning.
The Old Grey Mare on Clifton Green, more recently rebranded the OGM, closed at the weekend and has not reopened since.
Tables with half drunk glasses of beer and wine can be seen through the pub windows, and a TV looks to have been removed from one wall.
This sparked concerns among locals that the pub had gone for good.
Today, the owners told YorkMix that they are just on holiday.
However the pub’s Facebook page has since been updated, and states: “Permanently closed”.
The Old Grey Mare was bought on 14 March 2019 for £646,988 by Tavern Propco Ltd, a company registered in Jersey.
Since then the Grade II building has undergone a major renovation. It was back in January 2020 that plans were submitted to add an outdoor restaurant space, wine cave and deli.
A glazed extension and pergola with a retractable roof and sliding glass doors were also added. The new owners, Mark and Kasia Caulfield, invested £350,000 in the transformation, and reopened it in April 2022.
This January the pub brought in well-known York restaurateur Silvano Scanu in partnership with Angelo Casula to relaunch its restaurant as an Italian Kitchen.
The OGM website, which is currently offline, used to say: “It’s the place to be with many offers such as the deli, pizza restaurant, fine food restaurant (Tom’s kitchen) fab bar, wine cave, expansive external space including a glazed in area where the roof removes automatically in the better weather!
“External large patio area and 10 bedrooms to follow next year once refurbished.”
‘On holiday’
YorkMix contacted Mark and Kasia Caulfield via text today and asked to talk to them about what was happening to the pub.
They replied that they were on holiday, and “couldn’t find anyone to look after” the Old Grey Mare while they were away.
When asked when they were coming back, and when the pub would be reopened, they didn’t reply.
After this text exchange, the OGM Facebook page was updated with a new cover image and several of the most recent entries were deleted.
The Old Grey Mare dates back to the 1600s. According to Hugh Murray’s book A Directory of York Pubs it was called The Grey Horse in 1830 before changing the name later that century.
By 1902 it had a taproom, bar parlour, dram shop and two smoke rooms.
In July 2021, Terry and Maxine Daly retired after running the Old Grey Mare for nearly 35 years.