Barbirolli closes its doors
EAZYFONE founder Pete Petrondas has closed down the former Pitcher & Piano Unit at Barbirolli Square just six months after the bar’s formal launch.
Entrepreneur Mr Petrondas launched the Barbirolli venue as a 400-person capacity bar/restaurant venue aimed at older, more sphisticated customers in March.
He and co-founder Barry Hogan, who has run a series of bars and restaurants in Macclesfield and south Manchester, said that they had spent £775,000 on acquiring the lease from brewer Marston’s and converting the venue into a bar/restaurant aimed at older customers offering entertainment alongside evening meals and drinks.
The pair had set a turnover target of of £1.6m in its first year, and aimed to move into profit “as quickly as possible”. They also talked about rolling out the concept to other city centre locations.
However, the bar, which was meant to be hosting a reunion event for former employees of property agency Dunlop Heywood last night, closed yesterday.
“Sadly, due to difficult trading conditions, a decision has been taken to close down Barbirolli this week,” said Mr Petrondas.
“All customers with bookings have been contacted and of course any deposits will be fully refunded.
Mr Petrondas said that both he and Hogan “would like to give sincere thanks to our customers for all their continued commitment and support”.
