Post Office Vaults in the city centre has delivered its final pint after facing a number of challenges in the past five years
Mike Perkins, owner of the Post Office Vaults had said the pub was facing closure, due to fewer customers and rising prices – and now he has pulled the plug in the venture
A landmark Birmingham pub has shut for good – with its landlord blaming several factors for its closure.
Post Office Vaults in Pinfold Street, just off Victoria Square, has called last orders for the final time.
Its landlord, Mike Perkins, cited a big drop in customers, linked to people working from home, coupled with a large rise in prices for its downfall.
The city centre venue has been struggling and Mike had sounded the alarm around a month ago saying ‘things need to change’.
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At the time he said people working from home had made his business ‘unsustainable’ and said he had seen a massive drop in trade since Covid hit in 2020.
That drop in footfall has seen the number of punters in town drop and lunchtime and after work trade slump.
He said the only thing which had managed to sustain the Post Office Vaults in recent times were its regulars. But now even that was not enough.
Mike Perkins, owner of the Post Office Vaults has said the pub is at ‘breaking point’, attributing to a number of reasons ranging from rising costs to lack of footfall post-Covid.
Now, Mike has pulled the plug on the business and closed it for good.
In an emotional post on the venue’s social media pages, he said: “This is a challenging post to write!
“Unfortunately, I’m sad to say that the time has come to close the pub.
“It has been 15 years of the most rewarding, challenging, mental, funny, difficult, enjoyable experiences of my life.
“It’s given me so many great memories, friendships and laughs I’ll carry with me forever- (along with my massively increased beer belly).
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He said: “Unfortunately, the way this trade has been since Covid with people working from home, it has halved our trade.
“The cost of our bottles since Brexit has made them about 30 per cent more expensive (even after lowering our GP), whilst the available range has cut down by 50 pr cent.
“Obviously, that’s not good when your USP [unique selling point] is rare imported beers.”
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But after fighting the drop in business and price hikes Mike said it was now time to close up.
He continued: “Like so many others in this industry, we’ve done everything we can to battle through and keep going.
“But it’s just no longer sustainable for us sadly.
“It’s too late for us but may not be for our other independent pubs so please support them before it’s too late.
“Thank you to all the regulars who supported us over the years (you all know who you are)- you made the place what it was.”
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He added: “It’s been a privilege to serve you all whilst talking/listening/laughing about an ungodly amount of nonsense.
“I want to say one thing above all else though: Thank you to ALL my staff.
“Without you working so hard and being such a great team this message would have been posted ages ago.
“You are all truly my friends, not just my employees. For the final time I’ll say… That’s time guys.”