Birmingham bar group shuts Nottingham site

Birmingham-based Pure Craft Bars has been forced to close its site in the East Midlands after less than 18 months after struggling to establish itself on Nottingham’s ultra-competitive bar scene.

Purecraft Bar and Kitchen in St Peters Gate, Nottingham, was the sister site to the company’s first bar in Waterloo Street in Birmingham.

The craft beer bar opened in Nottingham in early 2016

After opening last April, Antona said: “Nottingham is a dynamic city with plenty going on in the food and drink scene.

“As a bar that’s as serious about food as we are about beer, we’re confident that we’re bringing something different to the area.”

Pure Craft Bars was founded by a trio of businessmen in 2014 – Purity Brewing co-founder Paul Halsey, former director at Mitchells and Butlers, Martin Hilton, and Andreas Antona, who runs Simpsons and The Cross.