The Angel Bar in Exeter shuts as notice warns of asbestos
An Exeter city centre pub appears to have been mysteriously abandoned over the summer. There has been no explanation for the sudden closure aside from a sign warning of asbestos.
The Angel, a small bar on Queen Street, has been secured by temporary steel door and currently appears to be vacant. A sign on the door warns passers-by "danger asbestos being removed".
A photo taken shortly after 5:30pm on Wednesday afternoon (September 25), a time when the venue would normally be open, shows the building closed and empty inside, with chairs stacked on tables. Pint glasses can be seen still standing on the bar.
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No note has been left on the premises by the owner to explain the closure and whether the pub is expected to reopen. Its normally active Facebook and Instagram pages have been lying dormant since July 28 and July 14 respectively. The most recent posts advertised a free comedy night, run by Devon-based group Squawkers Comedy Club.
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In one of the pub's recent posts on Instagram, which also advertised the comedy night, it was suggested that The Angel had plans for the coming months. Posted on July 10, it said: "We are extremely excited to announce we have teamed up with the amazing @squawkerscomedyclub to launch a new regular comedy night at The Angel, the first event will be taking place this Sunday (14th July - 8pm)
"This event will be totally free and absolutely 100 per cent will be a bloody good night of hilarity to wind down (or wind up) your weekend. We will be hosting regular comedy nights going forward both open mic style and then a more professional (ticketed) event."
On August 22, local band The Missing Keys said they had turned up at The Angel, where they had been due to play that night, to find the place closed. Band member Edward Tresloggett said: "The Missing Keys were meant to be playing at The Angel in Exeter tonight. We turned up to set up. The venue was closed. Tried contacting the manager, no answer."
A post on the band's Facebook page added: "Really sorry to have to cancel tonight's gig, but we've been let down by The Angel Bar Exeter. Shame, because we were raring to go and we used to love this venue."
DevonLive has made multiple attempts to contact The Angel to find out the reason for the closure but has received no response so far.
The venue was last purchased in 2020 by Marc Leslie, who said he had frequented the pub for the previous 10 years and even met his partner there. At the time, he described The Angel as "an institution" and something that "Exeter needs".
In 2022, staff at the pub were left "shell shocked" after a fire in one of the flats above. Marc said the fire could have spread into the pub if firefighters hadn't arrived as quickly as they did. The incident was initially deemed deliberate and a man was arrested on suspicion of arson but he was later released without charge.