Holohans at the Barge has announced it is closing its doors due to a “the combination of Covid, lease, insurance and other operational issues” making it impossible to continue trading.
The floating restaurant on the River Lagan says it will combine staff teams and continue to trade at its sister restaurant on University Road in south Belfast.
An announcement made on social media last night said: "It is with heavy hearts that we are announcing the closure of our much-loved Holohan's @ The Barge restaurant in Belfast.
"Due to several circumstances beyond our control, we will be consolidating our operations at Holohan's Pantry in the Queens Quarter on reopening. It is a tough loss, coming at the end of a very tough year but the combination of Covid, lease, insurance and other operational issues and a very uncertain future have rendered it effectively impossible to continue trading at this location.
"It has been a fantastic eight-year journey building one of Belfast's most successful restaurants and the people we have met along the way - wonderful staff, brilliant supportive customers and amazing local suppliers - have made it a rich and rewarding experience.
"It would have been difficult enough to have to close a struggling restaurant, but to be forced to close such an iconic, successful, and well-loved restaurant is devastating and really hard to bear."
*CLOSURE NOTICE*
— Holohans@thebarge (@Holohansboxty) May 4, 2021
Hey folks, it is with great sadness that we are announcing the closure of Holohans @ The Barge. For more information please read the statement above. We look forward to welcoming you to our Queens quarter location in the near future! pic.twitter.com/p3Uoq4oJ6u
