Owners of popular Warrington cocktail bar 'gutted' as they announce its shock closure

A POPULAR family run cocktail bar in Warrington has announced its shock closure.

Sue and Steve Savannah, owners of Savannah 19 Cocktail Lounge in Culcheth, made the sad announcement on social media, stating ‘our time has come to an end’.

The owners of the popular Common Lane bar, which saw the likes of Tommy Fury and The Only Way is Essex stars walk through its doors, first opened the establishment eight years ago following a major renovation project.

However, the mother and son duo confirmed in a heart-breaking statement on its social media page that despite some ‘amazing times’, the cost-of-living crisis and the pandemic have had a ‘knock on effect’ which has eventually led to its sad closure.

Savannah 19 Cocktail Bar, Culcheth (Image: Newsquest)
The statement began: “We have had some difficult times with covid and the cost-of-living etc, but also some amazing times serving you all and creating memories that we will never forget.

“Unfortunately, the knock-on effect from the cost of living has been the final nail in the coffin for us and custom in Culcheth is nowhere near what it needs to be to continue.

“Lack of government help or addressing the industries issues has been disappointing and leaving Savannah is going to leave a big hole in our hearts.”

Speaking further on the issues the business has encountered during recent years, Steve said: “We've hung on by the skin of our teeth and worked for free for so long. The village is now like a ghost town, and I don't blame them when people's mortgages have gone up by so much.

Savannah 19 Cocktail Bar, Culcheth (Image: Newsquest)
“But we can't continue if there's no one to serve.”

Steve and his mum began running the bar as a family project and became a focal part of the community in Culcheth. But while at one time even during the covid restrictions, queues would be out of the door for a table, Steve revealed that in recent months even a Friday and Saturday night is a struggle to get customers through the doors.

“Right now, is harder than Covid. No matter what the restrictions were, I could still fill every single table but there is no one around now.

“It seems to have declined over the last 12 months.”

The co-owner added that one of the best parts of running the business was being able to do it with his mum.

“We have never been rich from it, but we have done it because we love doing it,” he added.

Since opening in 2016, Savannah 19 has had visits from multiple famous faces, which the owners’ credit to helping ‘put Culcheth on the map’.

The final closing date for the bar will be July 27, and other opening times have been confirmed up until that date on its social media page.

Concluding their statement, the pair said: “We will be walking away with our heads held high after such an amazing experience, we have until the end of the month to say our goodbyes.

“We hope if you have ever joined us previously for the eight years of live entertainment, we have provided every Friday and Saturday night, you will pop in and enjoy us one last time.

“It’s the end of the road for us, we will miss you all.”