Celeb-owned Simpson's bar in Sutton Coldfield to shut as owners bemoan ‘yet more decline’
A pop star and his family have announced ‘an end of an era’ as they are closing their Sutton Coldfield bar after seven years in the town. Bradley Simpson, lead singer with The Vamps, opened Simpson’s Bar in High Street alongside his parents, Anne-Marie and Derek and sister Natalie in February 2017.
The speakeasy 1920s-style gin bar started by offering a range of 40 gins and more cocktails, all with table service, along with rum, whiskey, champagne and bottled beers. But it was hit by the pandemic, like all hospitality businesses, and faced increasing costs in the past two years - a factor which seems to have put paid to other big names in Sutton recently.
The Simpson family announced on the business’s Facebook page that the gin bar would close for good at the end of the month. The post said: “With great sadness, we must announce the forthcoming closure of Simpsons.
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“Trading conditions have been so difficult for the past few years and the decision, while necessary, has been put off for too long. We will be forever thankful to those guests that held special celebrations with us and came in to have fun, lots of lasting memories have been made.
"Thank you to our current team and all past team members that have helped make Simpsons what we visioned eight years ago. We are aware this month two other hospitality venues have made similar announcements, a sad reflection of yet more decline in the town. We wish you well and share the difficult emotions that we all are dealing with.”
The post also linked to another message saying ‘end of an era’ and said the bar would be closing ‘after we have helped some lovely people host their private celebrations this month’.
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It adds: “Unfortunately, due to tough times in the hospitality industry, we can no longer keep the doors open. The biggest of thank yous to everyone who's hosted memorable parties, helped us drink hundreds of bottles of gin and propped the bar up into the small hours of the morning!
We are open on Friday 20th September for anyone wanting to come in for a last hoorah - we would love to see you. We'll be forever grateful for the laughs, chaos and love! Simpsons xx.” The official closing date for the Simpson’s Bar is Monday, September 30.