Stafford's Apothecary bar closes without warning, leaving the iconic former Post House building empty again
A town centre bar in one of Stafford’s most historic buildings has shut suddenly just a year after it first opened.
The Apothecary closed its doors last week with no warning – after hosting a Boxing Day cocktail party and New Year’s Eve party.
The restaurant and cocktail bar opened at the former Post House on Greengate Street in December 2016.
It comes as Monsoon, at the opposite end of town on Gaolgate Street, confirmed that it was closing on Saturday, although staff at the store were unable to say anything further.
The Apothecary building, which is opposite the Stafford Borough Council house, is one of the town’s most historic properties.
It was once occupied by William Chetwynd, Third Viscount Chetwynd, whose family has close ties to Stafford. It also served as the town post office.
It was unique
According to details on the Companies House website, the West Midlands Pub Company, which ran the bar, was dissolved on December 19.
And no-one from the firm was available to comment on the closure.
Councillor Christine Baron, who represents town centre ward Forebridge, said: “It’s a loss. I had not been in since the new owners took over.
“I went in when it was the Post House and it was absolutely brilliant. I was very, very impressed with everything so it is very sad. It is a well-known building, I think quite a lot of the original features had been left intact, it was unique.
“I would not want it to be empty for too long and I’m very keen to see it up and running again. There has got to be someone who can raise the bar and encourage people to go in there. Of course the other sad thing is that it is not only the loss of the bar but the loss of jobs as well.”
The building was built in the early-1700s and named after its first owner William Chetwynd. He was elected as MP for Stafford in 1715, which is a seat he held until 1722.
In 1734, he re-entered Parliament for Stafford until he died in 1770. Between 1914 and 2007, the building was home to the town’s post office before a bar and restaurant took over in 2011. The Apothecary and Monsoon are the latest town centre businesses to shut following the sudden closure of Stafford Cinema last month, which dates back to the 1930s.
