Yahoo News Newcastle's 'cursed' ski themed bar gone in two years after being opened by Olympic icon
It opened amid lots of excitement, plenty of curiosity and with a star guest to cut the ribbon, but a ski themed venue in Newcastle has long since been forgotten, having closed in less than two years to be replaced by a sports bar. But its demise should really be no surprise as it was in the same location as other much hyped haunts that struggled to pull in the crowds.
When plans were first revealed for Antler, on 55 Degrees North roundabout, both the people behind it and drinkers in the city were excited to welcome something completely different for Newcastle, with the juxtaposition of alpine themed decor and warm temperatures one not being done anywhere else in town at the time.
After all all of the build up and the promise of a star guest on opening night, Antler launched in June 2018, taking inspiration from ski lodges of Austria and Switzerland; offering its guest the chance to sit in cable cars and pose with skis and with a food menu that boasted an array of schnitzels, sausages and traditional German apple cakes.
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The job of opening Antler fell on the shoulders of Team GB Winter Olympic icon Eddie The Eagle, who shot to fame at the Winter Olympics in Canada in 1988, when he became the first competitor since 1928 to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping. And, despite finishing last in the 70m and 90m events, his determination charmed viewers the world over.
While there was a lot of initial interest in Antler and it quickly became a place that was seen on many social media accounts as revellers took advantage of some attention grabbing photo opps, Antler never really made its mark on Newcastle and, Antler in August 2019, the bar and sister venue Fat Buddha went into administration and and were saved by new owners.
The fact that Antler didn't really light up Newcastle's nightlife scene was disappointing but, sadly for the bar and its owners, it was in the same place of previously shut down ventures like The Box, Bar 55 and Linekers, with the latter's lack of success a particular surprise, given its popularity in other locations across the world.
Fat Buddha has since become hugely popular brunch and dinner show haunt The Purple Peacock, while Antler's replacement, Bar 52, has had fans flocking for the Euros.
