God. I just heard The Meat Shack is closing and I'm sitting here with my morning coffee feeling like someone punched me in the gut. Their Mr C burger literally got me through my divorce in 2019. That's not even an exaggeration.
The beloved burger joint on Birmingham's Thorp Street announced they're shutting their doors next month after eight years, and locals (myself included) are absolutely devastated. I actually texted my friend Dani when I heard and her response was just a string of crying emojis followed by "where will we go for hangover food now???"
The Last Burger Standing?
Owners Paul and Cat broke teh heartbreaking news via Instagram, explaining their lease is ending and the building is slated for demolition. They managed to weather the Covid storm and all the chaos of running a small business in our current economic hellscape, but this particular hurdle proved insurmountable.
I still remember when they first opened as a "pop-up" that somehow lasted nearly a decade. My editor bet me £15 I wouldn't finish their spiciest burger in one sitting. (I did, but at what cost to my digestive system?)
Where the Hell Am I Supposed to Get My Burger Fix Now?
The silver lining—if you can call it that—is that The Meat Shack team is actively looking for a new location. They've asked customers to drop suggestions in the comments of their farewell post.
Last night I drove past and the place was packed. Obviously.
Their final day of operation will be May 10th, 2025. That gives us exactly... not enough time to say proper goodbyes to their legendary Mr C and RnB burgers. The owners have promised they'll be "behind the bar or in the kitchen crying a lot" during these final weeks.
Just Another Casualty in the Retail Apocalypse
The Meat Shack isn't alone in its struggle. According to the Centre for Retail Research, a staggering 13,479 stores closed permanently in 2024—that's about 37 shuttering every single day. Christ.
Over half of these closures happened because businesses entered insolvency proceedings. That's the fancy way of saying "drowning in debt with no life raft in sight."
Independent shops have been hit hardest, with 11,341 of them closing compared to 2,138 larger retailers. It's like watching the soul being sucked out of our high streets in real time.
The Emotional Meat Sweats
I feel stupid admitting this, but I'm genuinely emotional about a burger restaurant closing. It's not just about the food (though their burgers were transcendent). It's about the memories.
The time my brother announced he was moving to Canada over their cheese fries. The awkward first date where I laughed so hard I snorted beer through my nose. The countless Friday nights when their kitchen saved me from making terrible drunk food decisions elsewhere.
Places like The Meat Shack aren't just businesses—they're landmarks in our personal geographies.
If you're a Brummie with any sense, you'll make the pilgrimage to Thorp Street before May 10th. I'll be there next Friday, probably ordering one of everything like some kind of deranged burger hoarder.
And to Paul, Cat, Blake, Sonny, Jenni, and Dev... thanks for feeding us all these years. Birmingham won't taste the same without you.
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Statistics
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https://hellofaread.com/money/lidls-bbq-deal-making-shoppers-lose-their-minds-and-i-get-it
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