A Merseyside venue has announced “with a heavy heart” that it has closed. The Hightown Pub in Hightown, Sefton, initially shut after its owners said they were forced to close due to the worsening climate of the hospitality industry and the cost-of-living crisis.
However, the Lower Alt Road site was temporarily saved when GSG Hospitality, the team behind Duke Street Market and NORD, stepped in and put executive chef Daniel Heffy at its helm. Daniel, alongside partners Matt Farrell and John Ennis, transformed the space into a “dynamic hub of hospitality”, under the new name The Hightown Inn.
However, fast forward to this week, and the venue has closed once again. The Liverpool ECHO contacted GSG Hospitality for comment, who referenced the venue’s social media post.
Writing on Instagram to thousands of fans, The Hightown Inn, said: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that we have decided to step away from The Hightown Inn and the pub will be handed over to new owners in the coming weeks.
“We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved at The Hightown Inn, we feel we have reinvigorated the pub for the village and created a place we truly believed in. We hope that legacy continues long into the future.
“We have never been willing to compromise on quality, from well-sourced ingredients to the standards we hold ourselves to, and this is getting tougher in the current hospitality climate. This decision has been shaped by a combination of ongoing challenges, the recent budget, wider government policies and broken promises.
“All of this together has made it unsustainable to continue in the way we believe mirrors our culture at GSG. As a result, we will be focusing our efforts on other areas of the business and from the 5th January, The Hightown Inn will close and have no affiliation with GSG Hospitality from then onwards.
“Our priority throughout this process has been to ensure a smooth transition, with the pub closed for the shortest possible time, so as not to disrupt our brilliant staff or the local community while the new owners take over.
“We want to thank everyone who has supported us along the way, our team, our suppliers, and the wonderful local community. We wish the incoming owners every success and good luck for the future. Thank you for being part of the journey.”
Online, The Hightown Inn’s website echoes a similar sentiment. It confirms the venue is now closed and will reopen under new management in the coming weeks, under new management.
It also says that customers with an unused gift card, purchased in the last 12 months, are to contact the GSG Hospitality group.
It added: “We want to thank everyone who has supported us along the way, our team, our suppliers, and the wonderful local community. We wish the incoming owners every success and good luck for the future.”
