LAST orders will be called at a long-standing bar in Worcester city centre after it was revealed it will permanently close.
Slug & Lettuce will be bidding its customers farewell after over 15 years on The Cross because the business at the branch is “no longer commercially viable.”
Owners of the chain, Stonegate, revealed it has been forced to make the difficult decision over significant challenges facing the hospitality sector.
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The venue has called the historic St Nicholas Church opposite Subway its home for over 15 years after moving from the Cornmarket.
A spokesperson for Slug & Lettuce, Worcester, said: “The hospitality sector continues to face significant challenges.
“After careful consideration, and despite our best efforts, the site is no longer commercially viable, and we have taken the difficult decision to close Slug & Lettuce, Worcester.”
Slug & Lettuce has a long history in Worcester, with its original branch in the Cornmarket in the 1980s.
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Stonegate has thanked its team and staff for supporting the brand over the decades.
A spokesperson for Slug and Lettuce added: “We would like to thank our hard-working team for their commitment and dedication.
“We would also like to thank our guests and the local community for their support over the years.”
The history of St Nicholas Church
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St Nicholas Church has become most notable in today’s age as the home of Slug & Lettuce but its historic roots go far further back.
The distinctive tower of St Nicholas Church and the building were rebuilt in the 1750s and were formally listed as a Grade II property in 1954.
However, its life as a church was short-lived after that, with the site closing in 1989.
It had then served as a home to restaurants and bars before being taken over by Slug & Lettuce in the early 2000s.