Top 10 beloved bars to close their doors
Cities around the globe have seen many cherished watering holes close their doors for good – here are 10 of the best bars to shut in the last decade.
Iconic New Zealand venue Bar Bodega is set to close by the end of the yearEvery month, SB gets word of new venues opening in every city – cocktail bars, wine bars, quirky pubs and rooftop lounges on almost every corner.
As the industry welcomes in new watering holes, however, it must wave goodbye to others, and in the last decade there were plenty of bars and pubs which were sadly let go.
From tiki-themed haunts to iconic burlesque bars, the growing number of venues shutting each year is growing rapidly, particularly with UK pubs closing at a rate of 27 per week.
Click through the following pages to mourn our pick of the world’s 10 best bars which either closed in the last decade, or are about to bid their final farewell.
Elixir & Tonic, Manchester
Deansgate drinking hole Elixir Tonic and Treats shut in June this year after being told their building would be demolished. The independent cocktail bar created drinks using experimental methods and unique ingredients with high levels of service. A new £70m office development is set to replace it, with construction due to begin in summer.
Madame Jojo’s, Soho
Home to burlesque and cabaret in Soho, Madame Jojo’s was known for its diverse nightlife for more than half a century. This decadent Soho jaunt closed in November 2014, when the council revoked its license following an incident outside the club. The venue hosted some of the earliest gigs from The xx and Lorde and held regular music nights. In February this year it was rumoured the venue may reopen once again.
The Exchange, Sydney
This Sydney nightspot, along with many bars in the area, shut its doors last August in the midst of the 1.30am lockout laws. The century-old Exchange Hotel on Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, contained six venues including the Phoenix, live music hub Spectrum and the upstairs Q-Bar.
Bar Bodega, New Zealand
The iconic venue has hosted indie legends from The White Stripes to New Order’s Peter Hook, and now Wellington’s legendary Bar Bodega is closing down after operating for 25 years. The owners tried to buy the building but lost out to a company owned by skincare queen Elizabeth Babalich. The venue is set to close at the end of 2016.
Candle Bar, New York
This Upper West Side gay bar was one of the oldest bars in New York, in fact it was the only one in its local neighbourhood. The beloved venue shut its door in June 2015 due to the rise of real estate prices.
Hakamou, Northampton
The popular tiki-themed bar, known for its exotically-named drinks and cheesy tunes,announced its closure earlier this year. Fear not – the owners run another Hakamou in Leicester if you’re missing cocktail umbrellas and drinks served in coconuts.
Raccoon Lodge, New York
Known for the friendly bartenders willing to listen, the 33-year-old dive bar closed this January to make room for a new luxury tower. The bar was a great haunt for many Wall Street workers looking to alleviate the stress of their jobs.
Half Moon, London
The Half Moon, in Herne Hill, was forced to shut in August 2013 after an 88-year-old water main burst leaving homes and business flooded. The south London pub hosted legendary stars U2 and Sinatra and is set to reopen later in 2016 after a campaign group launched an online petition to save the pub.
Vibe Bar, Brick Lane
Based at the Old Truman Brewery, Vibe Bar is the latest beloved drinking den to shut down in 2016. Established in 1995 in London’s famous Brick Lane, the bar is spread over four different rooms with a huge courtyard to enjoy sipping a cocktail or two whilst watching the world go by.
Downstairs, Aberdeen
Music venue Downstairs on Holburn Street will shut at the end of July, as well as upstairs sister bar The Malt Mill, which will shut in August. The closures follow a noise complaint and soundproofing issues with the owners unable to raise funds to make amendments to the venue.
