A popular UK restaurant in the trendy ‘Baltic Triangle’ has suddenly closed overnight, with ‘furniture gone’ and diners heartbroken.
Horus Bar and Grill, located in Liverpool, had been serving Egyptian cuisine for around a year.
2
But now, the once-busy venue is shuttered, with furniture removed and no sign of reopening.
It’s listed as permanently closed on Google, and even the restaurant’s Instagram page has vanished, leaving loyal customers in the dark.
The restaurant was known for its authentic halal menu, attracting foodies from across the city, especially the Muslim community, who relied on it for its halal meat options.
From grilled kebabs and lamb chops to stuffed vine leaves and creamy baba ghanoush, Horus Bar and Grill carved out a unique place in the city’s food scene.
But over the last few weeks, the doors have remained firmly shut.
Locals say the place looks stripped bare, with key furnishings and decor already removed from the premises.
Attempts to contact the owners have been unsuccessful, and no explanation has been posted online or on the venue itself.
The sudden closure has sparked speculation, with diners expressing disappointment and confusion over the restaurant’s silent exit.
One regular said: “It was a proper gem. Really sad to see it go, there’s nothing else quite like it around here.”
The shock news comes just days after another popular name in the Baltic Triangle revealed it was also shutting up shop.
Richie’s, a staple of the Baltic Market, announced it would be leaving the food hall after several years.
Known for its indulgent burgers, cheesy bites and loaded fries, Richie’s had built up a cult following.
In a statement, Baltic Market said: “We’ve got some huge, and potentially heartbreaking, news. Richie’s will be leaving us next week.”
“After an unforgettable run… it’s time to pass the torch.
“We’re making way for a brand-new trader to join us and serve up some next-level scran.”
Staff from Richie’s were praised for their creativity and passion, with the market adding: “Who remembers the Cheetos mozzarella stick? Iconic.”
This is the latest in a growing list of hospitality closures across the UK, from independent restaurants to household chains.
In London, the country’s oldest Indian restaurant, Veeraswamy, is facing the axe after 99 years.
The legendary spot on Regent Street, which has hosted royalty and politicians, may be forced out after landlords refused to renew its lease.
Despite holding a Michelin star and hosting the likes of Princess Anne and King Abdullah of Jordan, the restaurant may soon be turned into office space.
Co-owner Ranjit Mathrani slammed the decision, saying: “They don’t care a bugger for history.”
Elsewhere, in Peterborough, two town-centre restaurants, Franco Manca and Harvester, shut down on the same day in March, dealing a double blow to local food lovers.
Franco Manca closed its site just three years after opening, while Harvester in Alwalton shut its doors ahead of a major refurbishment to become a Miller & Carter steakhouse.
Meanwhile, Caribbean chain Turtle Bay closed its Blackburn branch for good after eight years, citing the “good times” but leaving fans devastated.
What is happening to the hospitality industry?
By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter
The pressure on the hospitality industry is mounting.
Soaring energy bills, rising food prices, staff shortages and wage hikes have put huge financial strain on restaurants up and down the country.
Financial expert Craig Rachel, of AlixPartners, warned: “The accumulation of external pressures in 2024 is significant.
Some businesses have tried to adapt, but consumer spending is under pressure.”
Even iconic spots like Hakkasan in London have been forced to close.
The high-end restaurant recently shut its original location on Hanway Place after 24 years of service.
With more closures expected throughout the year, the silent shutdown of Horus Bar and Grill may sadly be just one of many.
Why are retailers closing shops?
EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre’s decline.
The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors.
In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping.
Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed.
The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing.
Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns.
Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead.
In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few.
What’s increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online.
They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
2
#Popular #restaurant #iconic #Baltic #Triangle #suddenly #closes #furniture #removed #diners #left #devastated
Leave a Reply