The student pub Library Bar is now officially closed according to a statement released on its Facebook page, thought to be from Dominic McGowan, the bar’s former manager.
Library Bar, based on the University of Lincoln’s Brayford Campus, has been up for sale since November 2009 and was notable for being one of the few local bars to have a 24-hour licence. The ownership of the premises has now returned to the university.
A message, which has since been removed, from the fan page “R.I.P. Library Bar” said the university “has decided that (for rather good and sound financial reasons it has to be said) it needs the building”, and joked that it would be used so that “hard working security guards can have a nice place for a brew. Or some lecturers can have some new offices. Or to raze to the ground and dance on it’s ashes.”
It also said that there had been various difficulties with the university in running the business: “The three years I have spent at the Library Bar have been marked by various run-ins with the University and the Student’s Union.
“While some have been misjudged by myself (expensively so at times….), my intentions have always been to push your representatives to represent your interests more fully.”
A series of questions were posed: “Why did the Library Bar run so many fundraisers for charities and student societies when there is ample facilities for these events at the university? Why, in this time of financial hardship, are the university bars so expensive?”
Some of the disputes involved the Freshers’ Fayre event held by the Students’ Union, where external clubs and bars are banned from attending. This led to a rival event being held at the Glasshouse on the same day.
Documents advertising the sale of the premises stated that in the year ending March 2009 the business had a revenue of £114,500 with 87% of that consisting of drink sales, and that there was “significant scope for improving turnover by increasing food sales”.
A University of Lincoln confirmed the purchase of the Library Bar, saying: “It will be used for staff offices, but it is too early at the moment to comment on specific plans.”