Crobar: Drinking den beloved by celebrities and metalheads alike launches crowdfunding campaign to reopen

A Soho dive bar that’s poured shots for everyone from Dave Grohl to Justin Bieber has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to reopen – with the owner going so far as to write to Boris Johnson for a donation.

Crobar, the late-night rock n’ roll bar found on Manette Street – the cut-through from Charing Cross Road to Greek Street – is looking to attract £95,000 to ensure its future.

The bar, forced to close this June after 19 years trading, is hoping to find a new home. Writing on crowdfunder.co.uk, owner Richard Thomas said: "As most of you know, Covid-19 and the response of the insurance companies and landlords to this disaster have forced The Crobar out of business after 19 years of awesome rock n' roll fun.

“This will not do! Back in June, when I realised there was no way we would survive, I was heartbroken. As well as the obvious loss of all our jobs, I was hit hard by the thought that there are Crobar friends that I've seen on a regular basis for donkeys years, that I would never see again.”

“I thought I'd make it out of Manette St. with enough cash to buy a new bar. Sadly, that was wishful thinking. The landlord had other ideas and now we need your help to raise money to start again, and to be bigger and better than before.”

Thomas estimates he will need £200,000 to open a new whisky and music bar sometime in late 2021, but is hoping that £95,000 from crowdfunding will help secure the rest on a loan from the bank. Thomas is offering those who support the campaign a beer and a shot on the house, as well as offering various prizes, including framed pictures, t-shirts and Crobar-branded Zippo lighters. The bar owner was also forced to put his last bottle of Crobar whisky, bottle number 666, up for sale. To contribute to the campaign, head to this page.

The bar has attracted some of the biggest names in rock and metal over the years, including Grohl, Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson and Lars Ulrich of Metallica, but its international reputation has grown such that it’s also served P!nk, Lady Gaga and actor Kiefer Sutherland.

Thomas has also written to prime minster Boris Johnson asking for a contribution. A screenshot shared on Twitter shows his email to Johnson, which reads: "Dear Prime Minister, At the start of March I owned a vibrant business that had been trading for 19 years. I employed 11 people and paid around £230,000 a year in tax (that’s a total of £4,370,000).

"Now, thanks to your refusal to make insurance companies pay out the money they owe, and your refusal to make banks and landlords help their tenants, my business is gone, all 11 of us are unemployed, and you will receive no tax.

“I am now crowdfunding in the hope of raising the money to start my business again. If I succeed, I can re-employ my staff and pay taxes again. Perhaps you would like to make a donation under your ‘Plan for Jobs’ scheme.”

The bar had originally announced its closure in September, declaring itself “killed by landlords”.