The closure has been announced of award-winning independent Birmingham city centre freehouse the Post Office Vaults.
Photograph: Post Office Vaults
On social media, owner Mike Perkins explained the trade had halved since Covid, with more people working from home.
The pub had been well known for its huge range of foreign bottled beers, but the price of these has risen by about 30%.
“It has been 15 years of the most rewarding, challenging, mental, funny, difficult, enjoyable experiences of my life,” wrote Mike. “It’s given me so many great memories, friendships and laughs I’ll carry with me forever (along with my massively increased beer belly).
“Like so many others in this industry, we’ve done everything we can to battle through and keep going, but it’s just no longer sustainable for us, sadly. It’s too late for us, but may not be for our other independent pubs, so please support them before it’s too late.”
He finished by thanking his regulars — “It’s been a privilege to serve you all whilst talking/listening/laughing about an ungodly amount of nonsense.” — and his staff: “Without you working so hard and being such a great team, this message would have been posted ages ago. You are all truly my friends, not just my employees.”
