IT IS the end of an era for a Basingstoke bar which has closed after 25 years in the town.

The owners of the Rhu Bar, in London Street, announced that its final day of operation was on Saturday, May 25 after opening in the town in 1999.

Alison Bates, who owned the Rhu Bar with her husband Robert, said the couple decided to take early retirement and “snuck away quietly”.

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Basingstoke Gazette: “It is still very emotional and sad,” said the 56-year-old mother-of-three, adding: “We just decided to take early retirement as the trade isn’t great and there’s no footfall.”

Alison moved from London to open the bar with Robert in 1999 and said she has many memories from 25 years running the popular Top of Town venue.

“We have held so many things in there. We had our wedding breakfast and reception there. We brought up three children while there and had all their christenings there. Our youngest had her 16th birthday in there. Our son was manager up to the end so family and friends were all involved,” she said.

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Alison also paid tribute to the “amazing staff” who have worked at the Rhu Bar over the years, adding: “We have been really lucky to have some lovely people working for us.”

She said so far no one has shown any interest in taking over the venue, adding: “It’s sad, but it’s the lifestyle now. Robert is there packing everything away and it’s quite emotional but also a bit of a relief because it was getting so hard.

"We were open six days a week in the beginning doing breakfasts and lunches, it was full on 25 years ago but times are hard now and people – whether because of Covid or something else – people aren’t going out like they used to.”

The couple have no specific plans for their retirement but are hoping to have a much-needed rest.