The owners of Kennedy’s Bar and Diner in Nantwich have announced they are closing.
The venue, on the corner of High Street and Waterlode, will close permanently with immediate effect.
It comes just a few weeks after the venue was granted a licence to stay open until 2am and play music to the same time.
In a social media post, bosses of the diner said: “It is with great sadness that we have had to make the tough decision to close Kennedys doors permanently.
“It has been a financially challenging year with ever increasing costs in all areas, making it impossible to keep trading any longer.
“We have been very grateful to have met so many lovely people along the way … free toast Tuesday social club, our amazing DJs, regular diners and drinkers, and of course our fantastic farmers and students.
We will miss you all.”
Louise Reade opened Kennedy’s in early 2022, and then went on to open an alternative venue in the newly revamped Crewe Market Hall.
Louise had told the Cheshire East licensing committee in August she was trying to continue trading during what are harsh conditions for the hospitality industry.
The place always looked closed, blinds down, poor lighting. It always looks empty, Shame, but if the new owners correct this, it will probably be a big help.
Its in a prime position with the Snow carpark thats free 6pm (maybe 3pm)
Agree with Pips. The market has to move with the times. It doesn’t have to go fully down the Crewe Market Hall route, but stalls selling tea towels or oversized y-fronts are a thing of the past.
Improvements don’t have to be drastic. For example, has any thought ever been given to putting a canopy over the car park to the side? That space is totally underused and a covering would allow for year-round use. Street food trucks, events or shows for kids, extra market stalls even. Surely better for the town than an empty bit of tarmac?
Ive thought for a while that the covered Market Hall is not being used to its full potential – it could become a great food destination if thought about properly and create much needed revenue for both small traders and the TC itself, for traders like Kennedys.
Its open for 2.5 days a week max; the rest of the time its vacant. Similar venues (Crewe/Altrincham) have created a dynamic and vibrant area in similar spaces.
Whats needed is a proper strategy for the market complex; open this up to food vendors and traders on more days per week, try something different.
Sticking with the Love Your Market slogan when a lot of the stalls are selling homegoods, dusters, makeup and stuff that people dont really need or want isnt the way forward. Stay stuck in the past and Nantwich will become a ghost town in the evenings more so than it is now.
It is a shame another food outlet going, seems only establishments making a go of it are coffee shops…another set to open shortly. Seems people can just about afford a coffee…but not the cakes as they are too costly.
Oh Don. Aren’t you so entrepreneurial and wise as you hide behind your online anonymity. Next time you stroke your ego on Nantwich News how about telling us all of your business accomplishments in the harsh world of 2024’s economic challenges. Which venue or retail outlet do you run?
I for one say BRAVO to the Kennedy’s team for trying.
Cost of living is a real issue, people of all ages no longer have as much disposable income to go and and have food and drink.
Weather you use the venue or not this is another blow for the town,we need both shops and entertainment venues to keep Nantwhich an attractive place to both live and visit, the council need to be careful not to make it a ghost town with high business rates and parking charges
well catering needs an edge these days, you cannot charge highly for fast food types now, people are bored with frozen chips with everything burgers pizza, they should have gone down a different route and gained an USP