Legendary London rock bar The Crobar closes after 19 years
Sad news
Last updated 21st Sep 2020
Legendary Soho rock and heavy metal bar The Crobar has closed its doors permanently due to the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Located on Manette St in Soho, The Crobar opened in 2001 and was a favourite haunt of a variety of rock icons including Alice Cooper, Slash, and members of Anthrax, Slayer and Red Hot Chili Peppers, while Dave Grohl hosted an after-party there in 2008 following Foo Fighters’ Wembley Stadium show.
The Crobar’s owner Richard Thomas announced the news of the venue’s closure by posting a photo of a tombstone emblazoned with the words ‘Crobar – Soho. Killed By Landlords, June 2020. RIP’.
Alongside the Crobar’s landlords, Thomas also blamed the government and insurance companies for the closure. He also vowed to open a new Crobar in another location with the help of crowdfunding.
The Crobar's full statement reads:
Dear All,
It is with more sadness and anger than I have the words to express that I have to announce that The Crobar will be unable to re-open at its current location.
If the insurance companies had paid out, we could have paid the rent and the staffs wages and survived.
If the landlords had given us a rent discount or holiday, we could have survived.
Sadly, our idiot government did not make either of them do what’s right, and now the bar and music industries are in tatters.
Years and years of hard work by pub, bar and venue owners across the country have been destroyed in the blink of an eye, and all because of the greed of a few ‘land barons.’
Why did our government let this happen?
Oh, that’s right, they are the land barons!
On the upside, my 7 year old daughter pointed out to me that all I have to do is open a new Crobar, so that’s what I’m going to do.
I aim to open a new Crobar with both a bar and a live music venue.
It will require crowd funding, and I suspect it will be a year or so before opening will be viable, but f--- the greedy insurance companies, f--- the greedy short sighted landlords and f--- our brainless government…….we will be back!
Long live Rock n’ Roll