Lost In Leith bar set to close as Campervan Brewery reveals 'strategic refocus' following tram line closure
Campervan Brewery has said that recent pressure from the temporary closure of the nearby tram line was one of the deciding factors in closing the bar
The boss of a popular Leith bar which is set to close its doors next month amid a “strategic focus” and operational pressure from the recent tram line closure has reflected on the pub’s “amazing journey”.
Campervan Brewery has announced that its bar Lost In Leith, located on Commercial Street at The Shore, will be closing its doors for good on Sunday, October 4.
The bar has welcomed beer and brew lovers for over six years, having first opened to the public in March 2020.
However, following a recent uptick in success at the Campervan brewery and taproom, which has seen beer sales boom by 20 per cent, bosses are now taking the decision to refocus on expanding this part of the business.
Paul Gibson, managing director of Campervan Brewery, said: "It’s been an amazing journey with Lost in Leith, and I’m incredibly proud of the hard work the team has put into making it such a vibrant part of the Shore community since we opened just before lockdown in 2020.
“However, with the brewery now at maximum capacity and our sales up 20%, it is time to focus all our attention on expansion plans and sustainability projects across the brewery and our taproom.”
Mr Gibson said that soaring operational costs were another reason behind the closure, as well as the recent closure of the nearby tram line which saw trams stops between Newhaven and St Andrew Square closed during the closure of Princes Street.
He added that the drop in footfall attributed to the missing trams and the lack of council support in recent weeks had only solidified the decision to close Lost In Leith.
The sentiment was felt by many other business owners in Leith, some of whom previously told the Evening News that footfall had taken a significant hit during the normally busy tourist period in August with the feeling that City of Edinburgh Council had “forgotten” about The Shore.
Mr Gibson said: “The hospitality sector remains incredibly challenging, especially down here on the Shore.
“The closure of the trams in August resulted in a 26% reduction in our sales. Facing those hurdles without immediate council support made the decision to consolidate our business much clearer.
“It is the right time to close the bar, walk away with our heads held high, and put all our energy into this exciting next chapter of growth for Campervan."
The bar will be hosting a number of farewell events over the coming weeks and have invited locals and regulars down to celebrate six years of Lost In Leith. The owners of Campervan Brewery are also working with affected staff to support their transition into other local hospitality roles across the city.
Speaking last month, Edinburgh council leader Jane Meagher said part of the £5 million funding received from the Scottish Government would be put towards developing a campaign to promote Leith, the Shore and Newhaven.
She said: “We’re doing this in partnership with the businesses and communities themselves – and hope it will encourage footfall into the area well beyond the reopening of Princes Street and into next year.
“A brief overview of our plans is available on our Forever Edinburgh website, where traders can register their interest in the campaign.
“There’s so much to see and do in this wonderful part of our city – please do what you can to support your local businesses.”