A independent York café bar has shut suddenly.
The PAB on Castlegate has closed six months after it opened, and the building has been repossessed by its owner.
The repossession came only two weeks after the bar’s founders had revamped the interior.
A legal notice posted on the door of the bar says that the landlord re-entered the premises on 15 September.
The document adds: “As the landlord has peaceably re-entered these premises and forfeit the lease for non-payment of rent, the tenant has at common law lost its right to remove any of its fixtures and fittings from these premises.”
And it says that no one can enter the premises without the landlord’s permission, while referring any enquiries to Hethertons Solicitors at York Business Park.
The notice is signed by Janet Keenan, landlord.
The PAB was launched by York father-and-son duo Peter and Ben Wilson. They opened in February in premises that were previously home to the bar and bistro No. 3 at Castlegate.
Named after Peter’s three children Phoebe, Annie and Ben, The PAB was Peter’s first venture in the hospitality business. His background had been in marketing and property.
It served lunches and light bites during the day and transitioned into a bar on weekend nights with regular live music.
Ben had previously been a chef at Fancy Hanks on Goodramgate before the new venture.
At the time of the opening, Peter told us that opening a bar had “been a dream of mine for many years”.
Following its closure, Peter told YorkMix: “We proudly launched the PAB Cafe Bar in February, making continuous adjustments to our menu, pricing, and marketing strategies to better serve our customers.
“Our commitment to being customer-focused allowed us to connect with the community and the many visitors to York.
“Regrettably, despite our best efforts, we have been unable to generate sufficient revenue to cover our costs, and the landlord has now taken back control of the property.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who visited us, supported our venture, and provided us with fantastic feedback and reviews.
“The memories we created during our time at The PAB are cherished, and we are grateful to have met so many wonderful people.
“Thank you for being a part of our journey.”
The PAB ran regular open mic nights, and offered free venue hire – and if you needed a desk for the day, you could work there for £10 and get unlimited tea and coffee.
According to social media posts, on 3 September they had given the interior of the bar a “slightly updated look, a new comfy sofa, and a tonne of cushions for extra comfort”.
And their last post, about a weekend special dish of chilli beef and rice, was posted on 12 September, just three days before the repossession.