A restaurant venue on Shirehampton Road in the Stoke Bishop area of Bristol has confirmed its sudden closure. In an email to its customers on Monday, January 6, and later a message on its website, The Hideaway said: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of The Hideaway with immediate effect.
“After much consideration and discussion, we have come to this difficult decision, compelled by the overwhelming external factors that continue to impact small businesses like ours. Since we embarked on this adventure in 2019, we have faced unprecedented challenges, from Brexit to a cost of living crisis (and not forgetting the small issue of a global pandemic in the middle somewhere), all of which have placed immense strain on our operation.
“We want you to know that this decision is not made lightly, and it brings us great sorrow to think of saying goodbye to a space that has meant so much to so many. We would like to take a moment to recognise our incredible team of staff.
“They have worked valiantly showing resilience, creativity, and camaraderie as they have navigated the last five years. Their hard work and positivity has been nothing short of inspiring, and we are deeply grateful for their contributions.
“As we close this chapter, we encourage everyone in our community to continue supporting local businesses as this year will continue to challenge, especially those in independent hospitality outlets. Thank you for being a part of our journey. Your support has meant the world to us. The Hideaway Team.”
BristolLive reported yesterday (Tuesday, January 7) how locals and fans of the popular restaurant venue on Shirehampton Road had seemingly been left wondering if it had closed for good, after it failed to open as planned. When BristolLive visited the venue, there were groups of people outside wondering what the future held for The Hideaway.
But it seems that some online had already received the news. Local residents were quick to share their sadness and speculation around the suspected closure on neighbourhood site Nextdoor. One wrote: “Sad to hear about the closure of The Hideaway on Shirehampton Road. A sign of the times.”
While another added: “Very sad to hear this is going – not much else around in the way of local coffee shops – a smaller more basic coffee shop would be good – much needed!” Photos captured by BristolLive show the venue almost frozen in time, empty of people, but with clean and neatly arranged furniture and decor, which looked ordinarily like the restaurant had simply closed for the day.
There were no signs on the windows or doors to give a reason for the closure, and The Hideaway’s social media channels appear to have been disabled or deleted at time of writing. Since BristolLive’s report, The Hideaway’s status on Google has changed to read ‘permanently closed’.