Closed Hereford bar and bistro, Gilbies, is on the market

Gilbies, tucked away off Commercial Street in Hereford was started by Kevan and Bettina Gilbert in 1988.

The city centre bar and restaurant soon had a large following of regulars keen to sample the the Mediterranean food and beers from around the world on offer.

The Gilberts moved on in 2016, with former manager Rob Stead and his wife Hayley taking on the bistro, which continued to draw in customers until last month, when the couple announced they would be closing down.

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In a statement, they said they had spent seven years serving their "wonderful customers", but that the combination of Covid, ill health, rising costs of suppliers and utilities, and declining city footfall had left them with little choice.

The bistro is being marketed by commercial agents Sidney Phillips for £20,000 (free of tie lease).

It has been on the market for some time, initially marketed at £68,500 (lease) in 2021, with the asking price reduced in 2022 to £55,000.

The agents said the business, which has a £280,000 annual turnover net of VAT, can accommodate 60 people in its split-level trading areas and another 60 in the partially covered courtyard.