The number of restaurants, bars, pubs and cafes closing down in Nottingham demonstrates just how transient the food and drink industry can be.
One minute you're in your favourite spot eating and drinking, the next there's a sign up on the door. Worse still, it's on your list of places to visit... and now you've missed out.
Celebrity chef chains, long established old favourites and even some more recent favourites have shut their doors this year. Then there are those which have closed, only to re-open with a brand new concept.
Is it too soon to be nostalgic? Nah, let's take a trip down memory lane and remember the good times we had at this little lot.
The Peacock
Nottingham's only 100 per cent vegan pub closed in January when landlord of 19 years, Michael Scholes retired. The historic pub, in Mansfield Road, is where DH Lawrence was rumoured to have used the former upstairs hotel as a refuge for writing, and years later the boozer became the home of the Sausage Society.
It re-opened for a short time and then it closed again. Owner Star Pubs & Bars is planning a major refurbishment and the search for a new licensee continues so there is hope for the future.
Rub Smokehouse
Christmas was barely over when Rub, the brains behind the mega chicken Nugzilla, bottomless chicken nuggets, and eye-watering belly-busting concoctions, closed its doors for good without warning.
The American barbecue restaurant, in Adams Walk, off Fletcher Gate, remains empty. Fans were dismayed but others were glad to see the back of some of the monstrous creations.
Wimpy
A wave of grief and an outpouring of fond memories hit Nottingham as the city's last remaining Wimpy announced its closure in January after 43 years.
Akram Malik, the man at the helm of the intu Broadmarsh burger joint, said he had no choice but to close, having been asked to vacate upstairs and move downstairs to a unit which wasn't ready.
Customers declared it a loss. Richard Smith, 51, of Mansfield, said: "Everything is now served in boxes or bags but Wimpy is on a plate and you get a proper cup of tea."
Curious Manor
The quirky cocktail bar overlooking Trinity Square was renown for its unicorn, flamingos, skeletons, glitterballs and other weird and wonderful artefacts but they went into storage, ready for a huge tranformation.
Farewell Curious Manor, hello Monty's.
Co-owner Dan Brown said: "I want to go more leisure-based as the market has moved on. People want more than just a drinking experience. The Manor will always have a place in my heart but it's always nice to have a shake-up and refresh."
Instead of the tea garden and secret gin bar, the new retro gaming bar has interactive darts, ping pong, pool, table football, pinball machines and a 20ft shuffleboard.
Hart's Restaurant
It was a sign of the times when Hart's revealed plans to close its landmark restaurant at the top of Standard Hill after 20 years.
Once the number one spot for business lunches, the demand, time and budget are no longer there. The 80-seater fine dining restaurant saw the number of diners drop from 40,000 to 30,000 in the space of a decade.
Owner Tim Hart scaled back the operation to create a more intimate restaurant, renamed Hart's Kitchen, within his boutique hotel next door.
Storybooks
The fairytale ended when Nottingham's magical tea room Storybooks closed at the end of January - ten weeks after relocating to new premises in Upper Parliament Street.
Customers were entertained while tucking into afternoon tea or a crazy freakshake as characters from Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Wizard of Oz were brought to life.
The property has recently re-opened as a Turkish barbers.
Gurkha Kitchen
The closure of one of Notts top Indian restaurants left customers dismayed. The award-winning Gurkha One, at Rolleston, became a destination for curry lovers who knew they were in for a great experience.
Rising costs and increased competition were blamed for the closure. The owners said they had "worked tirelessly to make the business work" but couldn't continue any longer.
Regular Jacqui Leigh said: "Brilliant place. It was a great restaurant with the best food ever. Such a shame."
The venue has since re-opened under new ownership and is now a gastro pub, called The Dapper Spaniel.
Druckers
The chain, famed for its Vienna Patisserie, closed the branch in Nottingham, putting an end to posh cake and tea on the upper mall of intu Victoria Centre.
Part of the troubled Patisserie Valerie chain, it was amongst 71 branches to close nationally.
Aubrey's Traditional Creperie
It came as a shock when this hidden gem, in West End Arcade, decided to shut its doors after ten years, especially as the little crepe shop was thriving.
Owner Meg Hale said she'd taken the business as far as it could go, it had exceeded all expectations, and she was now ready for a new chapter in her life.
The French-style creperie's last day, appropriately, was Pancake Day, March 5.
Dolcino
The gelato shop, in Beastmarket Hill, closed in December for a winter break, while the Winter Wonderland took over the Old Market Square. But it was never to reopen and officially announced the closure in February, which just happened to be the warmest February since records began.
As well as gelato, the cafe sold paninis, waffles and hot drinks, but the owners said they couldn't compete with vendors in the square, both over Christmas and at the Nottingham Beach.
Dolcino was open for less than two years. The prime location remains empty.
Apotheka
Just a year after opening in Ruddington, trendy cafe and cocktail bar Apotheka called time - but not before inviting customers to "drink us dry."
The all-day venue, in Wilford Road, served breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and a wide range of cocktails but the proprietors said "circumstances beyond our control" made the bar untenable going forward.
The bar went out with a bang, in March, and remains closed although there are rumours about a new business moving in.
The Yacht Club
The upmarket seafood restaurant lasted just eight weeks before closing with immediate effect. The food, inspired by London's top oyster and caviar outlets, was lauded but it just wasn't meant to be.
After a short closure, and the erection of new signage, it was replaced by the Maharaja's Retreat - giving Maid Marian curry pilgrims an even wider choice of destinations for their bhuna or chicken tikka.
Jamie's Italian
After months of rumours and speculation, the celebrity chef's Italian chain went into administration in May. The Nottingham restaurant, in Low Pavement, was one of the casulties.
Nationally more than 1,000 staff lost their jobs. The chef tweeted: "I am deeply saddened by this outcome and would like to thank all of the staff and our suppliers who have put their hearts and souls into this business for over a decade."
Le Mistral
It was a very different picture 12 years ago when the French bistro opened, tucked away in Eldon Chambers, off Wheeler Gate as it quickly gained a good reputation for its authentic cuisine.
But it became a victim of the knock-on effect of Jamie's Italian, Carluccio's, and shops in and around intu Broadmarsh Centre closing, resulting in a 40 per cent drop in footfall.
Owner Chris Bulaitis, managing director of the Ever So Sensible Restaurant Group, said: "Over the last year this area of the city has declined as a retail and restaurant location, with many businesses closing. This has led to a major decline in footfall both day and night, making the location no longer financially viable for this style of business.
"We know that many of our customers, some who have been frequenting us for nearly 12 years will be upset by this decision.
"It has nothing to do with the offering or being a poor quality business but the location. Movement and footfall simply isn't there and it's not coming back in a rush - not on that street."
There is some good news, however, as the company is actively looking for alternative sites to re-open in Nottingham city centre.
Shakeaway
The milkshake bar - which boasted 180 different flavours - ceased trading at the start of the month, blaming "high rents" for the closure in Long Row.
However, it might not be the end of Shakeaway in the city.
Retail operations manager Lauren Kirby said: "We can confirm that the store's lease came to an end and a decision was made that the rent costs in this location are expensive and larger more economical properties are available in Nottingham where we intend to reopen in the near future."
