Iconic bar closes after seven years over ‘inability to pay bills' as owner says he's ‘devastated'
A POPULAR bar has shut down following months of financial struggles.
The Rock Box in Blackburn shut down last week, with ownership reverting to Blackburn with Darwen Council.
2
2
Dylan Mitchell, who has managed the bar since July 2023, said the former owners are in discussions with the council about reclaiming ownership.
Previous owners, Andy and Karen Joss, ran the bar for four years before Mitchell took over.
In a 'tough' post on Facebook, Mitchell said he was 'devastated' that the bar had to close.
Mitchell said: 'After months of difficult trading, low takings, and an ever-growing inability to pay bills, Blackburn Council repossessed the building this morning.
'As such, the Rock Box is currently closed. There's a possibility that the previous owners, Andy and Karen will be able to reopen as the Rock Box soon. I genuinely hope they do, to lose another bar in Blackburn is awful.
'I put my heart and soul into the Rock Box and ultimately failed, and I'm devastated.'
At the end of his message, Mitchell added: 'Much love and keep rockin''.
A council spokesperson has said it is 'always sad' to see a business close, clarifying that the change in ownership was not the reason for the closure.
Councillor Quesir Mahmood, executive member for growth and development, said: 'We understand that the owner dissolved the business in December 2024, however continued to trade. Unfortunately, he could not sustain the rental payments and handed the property back to the council [last] week.
'It's always sad when a business closes. As a council, we are working hard to support our town centres and businesses as best we can.
'There's already keen interest from a potential new tenant for these premises. We anticipate that the bar will be ready to reopen very soon.'
Fans of the bar shared messages of support for Mitchell on social media, saying The Rock Box had played a key role in supporting the local music scene.
'You did a bloody amazing job down there and helped out so many on the local music scene get their faces and music out to the people of a town where music and nightlife is being dealt blow after blow down to disastrous economic decisions by the council,' reads one of the comments.
Another fan said: 'Blackburn Council need their heads wobbling. How out of touch can a council be to shut down something so valuable to the local music scene.'
'Dude I'm truly sorry to hear this. You are a person that deserves the best and every single person can see what you did to form THE community,' commented another fan wrote.
'Be proud of yourself because a lot of people will back that up. You brought it forward as best as within your control.'
The Rock Box is among several bars that have announced they are shutting their doors in recent weeks.
The Cask Inn on Cambridge Terrace in Scarborough is set to close this Sunday 18 May.
The historic East London hotspot, The Gun in Homerton, has already closed, despite being hugely popular with locals.
More than 400 pubs closed last year as the total number of boozers reached an all-time low.
Some 412 in England and Wales — roughly 34 a month — shut and were demolished or converted into homes, offices and nurseries.
What is happening to the hospitality industry?
By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter
MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches.
Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
27 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Britain's dysfunctional finances are stifling aspiration and opportunity
SIR – As the Chancellor prepares for her Spending Review tomorrow, it is striking that no political party appears willing to confront the scale of Britain's fiscal problems. Now retired, I reflect on a life in which my generation enjoyed real opportunity. I left school at 16, completed an apprenticeship, studied further, bought a modest home, and raised a family. We lived carefully, but the path to security was there. Today's younger generation faces soaring taxes, student debt (we had grants), unaffordable housing, and strained public services – all while the state borrows heavily and spends over £100 billion a year on debt interest. Despite record tax receipts, driven by stealthy fiscal drag, the public gets little in return. When David Cameron's government attempted to rein in the deficit, this was attacked as 'austerity'. Yet no one now dares say what must be said: we must gradually pay down the national debt if we are to free up resources for housing, education and the NHS. The Government should focus not on how much it spends, but on what it delivers. A country that keeps dodging difficult choices will end up with no choices at all. Paul Allen Fleet, Hampshire SIR – As we await Rachel Reeves's Spending Review, we can only hope that the Government will cut up the national credit card, rather than grant itself a higher limit. But such an outcome would be controversial, not least because state-run institutions are bureaucratic and financially insatiable. We have reached the point where a major spending review should go far beyond manipulation of spreadsheets. It is time for serious questions as to what government does and why, and how it goes about it. However, these questions are too challenging for mere bean-counters. Are there any thinkers and innovators out there, or have they already left the country? David Porter Plymouth, Devon SIR – Britain is the sixth largest economy in the world, but it really doesn't feel like it. The country is seriously in debt and high interest rates mean that the cost of servicing that debt has also risen. This is being compounded by an ever-increasing welfare bill, an immediate demand to boost our spending on defence and a frankly unachievable net zero policy. The only plausible way out of this situation is to encourage economic growth, improve productivity and reduce uncompetitive energy costs. Yet this Government appears to have no solution except to tax and spend. The country is going broke fast, and at some point – perhaps even within this parliament – the IMF or the markets will call time on the situation.
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Chelsea hold further talks with AC Milan over goalkeeper Mike Maignan - as Blues look to push through a deal before 'special' transfer window shuts
Chelsea are continuing to discuss a fee with AC Milan for Mike Maignan after offering £12.6m. The Blues have stepped up their interest in the France No 1 in recent days and want to get a deal over the line before the 'special' transfer window closes on Tuesday evening so that he can play in the Club World Cup. However, they are yet to meet the asking price that Milan are demanding in order to let Maignan leave. It is understood that Milan want around £20m for Maignan, who has one year remaining on his contract at San Siro. Chelsea may be struggling to wrap up a deal for Maignan, but they did complete the signing of defender Mamadou Sarr from Strasbourg for £12m on Monday morning. That took the club's spending this summer to £60m already, having finalised moves for Liam Delap and highly-rated Sporting Lisbon prospect Dario Essugo. Meanwhile, current Chelsea goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli is in talks to join Manchester City as a replacement for Scott Carson. Carson is leaving City upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the month after a six-year stay at the Etihad. He has played just 108 minutes of football for City, having found himself behind Ederson and Stefan Ortega in the pecking order.
The Independent
29 minutes ago
- The Independent
Family visa income threshold should not rise to skilled worker level
The Government has been warned against raising the minimum income threshold for family visas to the same level for skilled workers as it is most likely to conflict with human rights law, an advisory body has said. Skilled workers are only eligible to come to the UK if they earn a salary of £38,700 or more, compared to £29,000 required mainly for British citizens or settled residents to bring their partner to the country under family visas. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) set out its recommendations after a review requested by the Home Secretary to look at how to set a minimum income requirement (MIR) for family visas that balances economic wellbeing and family life. The previous government planned to introduce the higher threshold for family visa applicants to be equivalent to the skilled worker level. But the committee's report said: 'Given the family route that we are reviewing has a completely different objective and purpose to the work route, we do not understand the rationale for the threshold being set using this method. 'We do not recommend the approach based on the skilled worker salary threshold as it is unrelated to the family route and is the most likely to conflict with international law and obligations (e.g. Article 8).' Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights is the right to private and family life that can be applied to migration cases in the UK. The UK's current £29,000 threshold is high compared to other high-income countries reviewed by the MAC. The analysis found a high proportion of applicants for partner visas are women and 90% are under the age of 44. Pakistan is the largest nationality to use the route applying from outside the country. The committee's analysis gave some options that a threshold of £24,000 to £28,000 could give more priority to economic wellbeing, such as reducing the burden to taxpayers, than on family life. It also suggested a criteria of £23,000 to £25,000 to ensure families can support themselves but not necessarily require them to earn a salary above minimum wage. Chairman of MAC, Professor Brian Bell, said: 'While the decision on where to set the threshold is ultimately a political one, we have provided evidence on the impacts of financial requirements on families and economic wellbeing, and highlight the key considerations the government should take into account in reaching its decision.' While the committee said it is not possible to predict how different threshold changes would impact net migration, it said lowering the amount to £24,000, for example, could mean an increase of around one to three percent of projected future net migration. The report added: 'Determining the MIR threshold involves striking a balance between economic wellbeing and family life. 'Whilst a lower threshold would favour family life and entail a higher net fiscal cost to the taxpayer, a higher threshold (below a certain level) would favour economic wellbeing. 'But a higher number of families would experience negative impacts relating to financial pressures, prolonged separation, relationships, adults' mental health and children's mental health and education.' The committee advised against raising the threshold for families with children as despite them facing higher living costs, the impacts on family life appear 'particularly significant' for children. It also recommended keeping the income amount required the same across all regions of the UK. The MAC also said their review was 'greatly hindered' by insufficient data and urged for better data collection by the Home Office on characteristics of each applicant to be linked to outcomes to inform further policy decisions. Reacting to the recommendations, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the report shows that raising the salary threshold will drive migration numbers down and urged for the threshold to be increased to £38,000. 'Migration figures remain far too high. It's time to end ECHR obstruction, raise the salary thresholds, and take back control of who comes into this country,' he said. 'As Kemi and I said on Friday, if the ECHR stops us from setting our own visa rules, from deporting foreign criminals or from putting Britain's interests first, then we should leave the ECHR.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The Home Secretary commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee to undertake a review. 'We are now considering its findings and will respond in due course. More broadly, the government has already committed to legislate to clarify the application of Article 8 of the ECHR for applicants, caseworkers and the courts.'
