Popular Athlone restaurant announces its closure

A hugely popular Athlone restaurant has announced that it is to close on Saturday.

Corner House Bistro on Dublingate Street in the centre of Athlone has been trading for twelve years.

In a post on its Facebook page this evening, owners Linda and Joe Connolly said that they were announcing the closure with "deep sadness", and described today as "a very sad day in our lives and in the lives of our staff."

The announcement of the closure was met with a big reaction online from local people who had visited the restaurant over the years.

"These last 12 months have been the most difficult for us with constant rising costs across all areas of the business. The increased VAT rate along with all of the other costs including labour, food and energy have made our business no longer viable," the post, on the restaurant's Facebook page, said.

"It is with heavy hearts that we must say goodbye to all of our 20 staff and our hundreds of valued and loyal customers."

They went on to invite anyone with vouchers to come in to receive a refund before the closing date.

"We thank you for all of the memories and laughs down through the twelve years that we have traded in Dublingate St. and hopefully we will see brighter days ahead but today is a very sad day in our lives and in the lives of our staff, many many thanks," the statement, signed by Linda and Joe Connolly, concluded.