Popular Newcastle pizza restaurant The Herb Garden has closed its doors, it has emerged.
The quirky pizza parlour – famed for its stallion Herbie the Horse, which stood at its entrance - was one of the first businesses to open in the converted railway arches close to Central Station in 2013.
Now, however, a simple printed notice has been placed on the entrance, informing diners: “The Herb Garden is now closed.”
A note on the firm’s Facebook page has also been posted, announcing the sudden closure, saying: “Chapter Eleven The End. What a story book ride we have been on. Six years ago The Herb Garden was just a dream and we were driven by an internal passion to feed folk fresh and healthy food but today marks our end. The Herb Garden Restaurant is no more.
“It is with great sadness that yesterday we pulled Herbie The Horse in for one last time, turned off the ovens and closed our doors.
“Everyone who was part of The Herbie G crew has been fantastic and continue to be amazing. We thank each and everyone of you for making The Herb Garden a fantastic place to be.
“ Newcastle you are a beautiful city and we are proud to call you home. Please continue to support each other and remember to take a second each day to appreciate what you have. BIG LOVE. The Herb Garden.”
The Westgate Road restaurant is the second under the Herb Garden brand to close.
In December 2017, its sister venue at Royal Quays marina closed less than a year after opening,
The Herb Garden ranked in the top 10% of all eateries in the Newcastle area, coming in at number 79 out of 908 eateries on Trip Advisor.
At the end of last year Network Rail sold thousands of railway arches across the UK – including the Westgate Road and Forth Street arches which house Herb Garden among other tenants – to a pair of investors as part of a £1.5bn property deal.
Businesses working from the arches feared rent rises but were reassured they would be protected by a “tenants’ charter”.
Telereal Trillium and Blackstone Property Partners were the winning bidders for the properties, which also include scores elsewhere around the North East.
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