'Difficult decision' as chain announces closure of Nottingham city centre pub

Via Fossa has been trading in Canal Street since the late 1990s

A popular pub located on the canal in Nottingham city centre will close down within days. Via Fossa, on Canal Street, will close its doors for a final time on October 19.

The owners of the pub, Greene King, have said in a statement that the decision to shut the pub has been a difficult one. They added that staff members will be relocated to other venues owned by Greene King across Nottingham.

A spokesperson for the pub chain said: "We have made the difficult decision to close Via Fossa on the 19th of October. We appreciate this is difficult news to our loyal customers and we would like to thank each of them who have enjoyed visiting over the years.

"We are working closely with our team at Via Fossa to find alternative employment in our pubs across Nottingham, where possible. The pub will remain open and trading as usual over the coming weeks.

"We have over 70 Greene King pubs in the city and surrounding suburbs including, the Grosvenor, Carrington, which has been recently refurbished as well as Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem and the Bell Inn, so we look forward to welcoming new guests to these other Greene King pubs.".

Sadly, Via Fossa is only the latest pub to leave Canal Street in recent years. The nearby Waterfront appeared to have closed suddenly in spring 2023, with no explanation given about the closure.

The pub used to be run by Marston's but a spokesman previously said: "The pub is no longer owned by Marston’s. It was passed back to the leaseholder."

The Company Inn at Castle Wharf, also on Canal Street, shut its doors permanently in November 2021 after it stood closed for some time. A spokesperson for Whetherspoons, who owned the pub, said: "We appreciate that staff at the pub as well as our loyal customers will be disappointed with the decision and we appreciate their loyalty over the years."

The Fellows, Morton and Clayton pub also appeared to be closed as of September 28, with signs saying owners Stonegate Group are looking for a new publican. This comes just months after the venue reopened under new management with a firm plan of action.

Stonegate were leasing the pub to Stout and Stone Inns, a rapidly growing pub company based in the West Midlands, with the new general manager, Andy O'Connor, saying the reopening was "all about consistency".