Owners of the trendy Posterngate venue have assured customers they have plans for a new site with new features
A Hull coffee bar has become the latest city centre business to announce its closure, citing rocketing costs for its decision. But Still, based in Posterngate, has assured customers that this is far from the end for the business, and that it is busy working on plans for its “next chapter”.
The cafe, formerly known as Two Gingers Coffee, has been focusing on serving up prime coffees and natural wines for more than eight years from the city centre base. Yet it has admitted that the operational costs of maintaining that central base have been biting into profits.
The business, co-owned by Luke Foster and Lucy Johnson and dubbed one of the city’s most Instagrammable venues, announced its imminent closure on social media, telling its customers that they have just eight weeks left to visit. The move comes two years after it made a “use us or lose appeal” after seeing a steep drop in footfall.
It also joins a number of hospitality and retail businesses to announce Hull closures in recent months, including restaurants Iron Lilies, Thai House and El Toro, and other businesses Pavers, Bodycare, and Pizza Hut, Family firm Hares and Graces also announced its closure this summer.
There is light on the horizon for customers of Still, however, as it is busy working on plans which will see it expand and adapt. The firm said: “We’re making an important change to ensure the long-term future of Still. In just eight weeks’ time, we’ll be closing our doors on Posterngate. Your support over these final weeks means the world to us as we build momentum for what comes next.
“We’ll share more details about the next chapter as soon as we can. While this news might come as a surprise to some, we’re genuinely excited for the journey ahead — for us, for our regulars, and for the future of Still.
“A new and exciting chapter awaits. Over the years, life on Posterngate has been everything. . . fun, stressful, fulfilling, and at times frustrating. But like all small independents, we have had to pivot and adapt to survive.
“The reality is that trading in the city centre has become tougher than ever. Costs keep rising, and while we’re operating in more ways and taking more revenue than before, what’s left at the end of the week keeps shrinking.
“Weekends have never been stronger – but midweek footfall is the quietest its ever been. Those busy weekends simply cover what’s lost midweek. Cup sales (our bread and butter) are slow, and with fewer people in town, our model of coffee and wine just doesn’t reach the volume needed. After seeing so many great businesses around us close, it’s hard not to feel like sitting ducks.
“But every obstacle of our 8-9 years of business had pushed us to evolve, and this time is no different. It will be bittersweet to leave the space we’ve poured ourselves into, but it’s also a chance to create something new, a place that fits who we are now, and where we’re going.
“The next space will have a dedicated roastery, prep areas, and of course a beautiful setting for wine, coffee, and flowers. It’s a step forward that allows us to double down on what we believe in most: quality. There’s sadness, of course, but the excitement for what’s next outweighs it all.”
Still added that it will close its doors on December 31 and that customers should “stay tuned for our final events as we say goodbye to Posterngate and look ahead to the future of still.”
The imminent closure comes at a torrid time for the region’s businesses, especially those in the hospitality sector, as they battle to navigate numerous challenges including stubborn inflation, rising costs, tax increases and increased company contributions to National Insurance. They are also having to tackle declining footfall, and a drop in consumer spending, with people more likely to try to save their money than spend it.
Hull City Council stressed it is working to help businesses. A Hull City Council spokesperson said: “We’re working hard to support businesses in our city centre both now and in the long-term. Our continued commitment to regenerating our city centre includes a number of schemes available to support businesses, including grants to bring vacant property back into use.
“Our Culture and Heritage Strategy will additionally help to boost our city centre over the coming years, where fantastic projects such as the transformation of Queen’s Gardens and the Maritime Museum have contributed to Hull being listed as one of the world’s top 25 destinations by National Geographic. We also recently set out our ambition for the city centre over the next 20 years via our City Centre Vision, which provides the direction for investment, funding and growth for the coming decades.”
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