Independent Beer Shop to Close
JOEL CHESHIRE
One of Hastings’ most cherished independent beer retailers, Eel & Bear, has announced it will be closing at the end of the summer, marking the end of a much-loved chapter in the town’s craft beer community.
Nick and Mary have been selling their extensive selection of beers, ciders, mead and wine from around the world since 2018, building a strong reputation amongst locals. But they have now made the decision to close the family-run shop on Waldegrave Street.
In a statement issued on Sunday, February 8, they explained: “We’ve had lots going on over the past year or so. Stuff that’s made us reflect, take stock, feel inspired, feel empowered, scheme, procrastinate and panic. We’re sad to say the upshot of it all is that we won’t be renewing our lease at the shop. It’s been a gut-wrenchingly difficult decision, but one we feel is right for us thinking forward. We will therefore cease to be the proprietors at Eel & Bear this August.
“We’re incredibly proud, still sometimes in a slightly disbelieving way, of what we’ve built over the past eight years, and hope it doesn’t have to end here,” they added. “We’d love to find a suitably beer-obsessed individual, couple or club who values the business and feels destined to take it on. We know you’re out there. Speak to us. In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming you, as always, to enjoy the finest independent beer, wine and cider we can get our hands on.”
Despite struggles across the hospitality and retail sectors, Nick and Mary stress that the closure is not the result of business failure. While acknowledging the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and tricky climate that the hospitality and retail industries face, they said the shop has remained “remarkably resilient” under these challenging conditions; something they credit to a “very loyal and dedicated customer base” and to the advantages of operating on a small, entirely owner-run scale.
They describe the decision to move as primarily personal rather than financial. With their lease coming to an end and the recent arrival of a new daughter, not yet constrained by schooling, the timing presented an opportunity to explore other avenues while circumstances allow.
Nick and Mary hope the shop will continue to thrive under new ownership. They say: “We hope that by stepping away when we are, given the popularity and fortitude the business maintains, we’ll be in a good position to find new owners prior to our departure, and this will not be the end but a new beginning for Eel & Bear!”
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