I drove past The Station Inn yesterday and felt this weird lump in my throat. By April 26th, this Caerphilly landmark will be just another boarded-up memory. Another one bites teh dust.
God. Remember when pubs were just... always there? Like permanent fixtures in our neighborhoods that would outlive us all? Those days are long gone, friends.
The Gut Punch Announcement
The owners didn't mince words when they dropped the bomb on Facebook last week. "I'm devastated to tell you all that The Station Inn will close its doors for the last time on April 26," they wrote, making it clear this wasn't their choice. The landowner—whoever that faceless suit might be—has "reasons." Don't they always?
What really got me was the raw emotion in their post. They talked about crying, chuckling, and even "sticking my head in the glass washer" over the past three months. I've worked in hospitality before (back in 2018, worst six months of my life), and that glass washer comment hit different. Sometimes you just need to scream into something that drowns out the noise.
When Your Local Isn't Just a Building
The Station Inn sits on Nantgarw Road and has been pouring pints for 170 YEARS. My granddad used to talk about drinking there after his shift at the colliery. My parents had their first date there in '86.
I texted my mate Dave who had his 30th birthday party there last summer. His response: "Already looking for somewhere else for my 40th. Nothing's gonna be the same though."
The Last Hurrah (Bring Your Dancing Shoes)
At least they're not going quietly. The owners—Donna and Hayley—promised a closing night party that'll "drain the barrels dry." Part of me wants to go and raise a glass. The other part can't bear to watch another community hub flatline.
They've promised to announce "last night deals" soon. Translation: everything must go, including your liver.
Is This Just How It Ends Now?
The Station Inn isn't alone in this slow-motion car crash. The Gun in East London shut after 160 years. The Gartocher in Glasgow's East End called last orders after 87 years. According to the British Beer and Pub Association, we're losing SIX pubs every week across the UK. That's around 4,500 jobs gone—real people with mortgages and kids and dreams.
I spent £43 at my local last weekend. Maybe I should've made it £50.
The Emotional Hangover
Reading through the comments on their Facebook post was like flipping through a community photo album. "Met some lifelong friends there," wrote one person. Another mentioned "thousands of very good memories."
Weddings. Christenings. Wakes. First dates. Last dates. Job celebrations. Drowning sorrows. The Station Inn wasn't just serving alcohol—it was hosting life.
And now it's... what? Going to be another block of overpriced flats? A chain coffee shop? Or just an empty shell?
Listen. I'm not normally sentimental about buildings. But this one hurts.
If you're in Caerphilly on April 26th, maybe swing by. Let's send off 170 years of history with the respect it deserves.
And pour one out for the staff—Ceri, Lori, Sarah, Anna, Kai and Caitlin. Finding new jobs in this economy won't be easy.
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