A CELEB-loved bar and restaurant chain Horticulture has suddenly shut all its locations with diners stunned to find it closed.
‘s trendy Horticulture restaurant, its Whitley Bay sister site, and the popular El Guapo cocktail bar have all gone bust, leaving patrons gutted and bookings binned.
The , with punters turning up to locked doors and no explanation.
Now, the director of the venues has finally confirmed the closures, blaming crippling costs and a tough time for the hospitality industry.
A spokesman said: “We are regretful to inform you that both Horticulture venues and El Guapo are currently closed.
“We are, at present, undertaking advice before deciding upon the next steps for the future. We will update in due course.”
It's a sad end for the popular spots, known for their delicious food, buzzing atmosphere, and clientele.
Horticulture, famed for its stylish decor and outdoor terrace, had become a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike.
The city centre venueopened to great fanfare five years ago, soon getting a solid reputation for its amazing small plates food and its long list of espresso martinis.
It alsoattracted celebrity chefs including Si King of theHairy Bikers.
During the night the venue would fill up with revellers to enjoy its cocktails and DJ tunes, played out across the bar area and suntrap outdoor terrace.
El Guapo, known for its vast margarita menu and tasty tacos, had only recently taken over from another bar.
Meanwhile, the Whitley Bay branch of Horticulture, opened in late 2024, was also tipped for success.
But the rising cost of everything from to ingredients proved too much for the businesses to bear.
It is just another blow to the North East hospitality scene, which has seen several big names go under in recent months.
Diners with bookings are understandably fuming, while staff are now facing an uncertain future.
The closures are a stark reminder of the challenges facing and bars in the current economic climate.
TROUBLE ON THE HIGH STREET
Plenty of other retailers areacross the high street as households lean more towards online shopping and amid highrates.
Soaring in recent years has also dented shoppers' pockets.
The Centre for Research's latest analysis suggests 13,479 stores, the equivalent of 37 each day, shut for good in 2024.
Of those, 11,341 were independent shops while 2,138 were shut by larger retailers.
The data also showed over half the stores that closed last year were shut due to the store or retailer going through insolvency proceedings.
This is when formal measures are taken to deal with tackling a business's debt.
Retailers are also shutting stores in 2025.
is ramping up a store closure programme ahead of April's National hike.
Approximately a quarter of the retailer's 364 stores are at risk when their leases expire.
This equates to about 91 stores, with a significant impact on its 8,000-strong workforce.
