Birmingham’s 40 St Pauls to close
40 St Pauls in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter will close in December after 10 years in operation, with the demands of the business stopping its founder from starting a family.
The venue was previously a dedicated gin bar and was named Bar of the Year at the 2019 Icons of Gin Awards. However, post-Covid, it pivoted to become a cocktail bar.
Owner Amanjot Johl said that despite the bar being “the best thing I’ve done in my life so far”, the demands of running 40 St Pauls have kept him from starting his own family.
“Our industry asks everything of us: the hours, the rhythm, the sacrifice. I know it’s time to let go of one love so that I can find another,” he added.
A survey by Celebrate Her earlier this year discovered that 76% of parents in the on-trade have had to turn down work opportunities because of family commitments.
The bar’s final service will be on 20 December.
Johl posted the news on Instagram – see below for his full statement.
View this post on Instagram
He said: “The time has come for me and the team to bid you all adieu, mon amore. At the end of this year, 40s – as you’ve come to know and love it – will close its doors for the very last time. Ten years is a long time to do anything, especially to curate what has become, for us, one of the most beautiful drinking experiences in the city. All good things find their end, and we feel deeply grateful to share these final weeks with you.
“I’ve been so fortunate to spend a decade working on one of my core obsessions: what hospitality can be when it’s done with heart. Birmingham is blessed with a number of people who share this obsession, and I’ve stood beside some of the finest to ever do it, all experts in curating small, perfect moments for others. Thank you for sharing your love, craft and dedication with me and the whole 40s community.
“To the wonderful family who made 40s an extension of their homes, you have given this place its soul. To me, a true bar is a sanctuary: a place where the world outside fades, where laughter and conversation become a kind of communion, and where we remember how good it feels to be alive.
“It’s been my honour to share with you the stories behind our drinks, the music we adore, and the love and fun that go into making the whole experience. Whether you came for one quiet drink or one of those fleeting, perfect evenings that stay in memory long after the glass is empty, thank you for letting us be part of your lives.
“This little bar has been the best thing I’ve done in my life so far. But love is a demanding teacher. The devotion this place required has also kept me from another calling – I want a family of my own. Our industry asks everything of us: the hours, the rhythm, the sacrifice. I know it’s time to let go of one love so that I can find another.
“It’s astonishing to think what an old newsagent on a quiet corner could blossom into. From our early days exploring the finest gins to that brief, shining moment where we were named the best in the world, and later, reborn as a seasonal cocktail bar – the journey has been extraordinary. I’m proud of everyone and everything it took to get here. But, like they say, maybe the real triumph has been the community we built along the way.
“We’ll be here, Wednesday to Saturday, for a few more weeks… pouring, laughing, remembering. Our final service will be on 20 December. Come raise a glass with us, share your stories, and help us bring these 10 remarkable years to a close worthy of the love that built them. Thank you.”
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