Owners of award-winning hotel, restaurant and bar on Yorkshire Coast take 'heartbreaking decision' to close down due to coronavirus

An iconic hotel, restaurant and bar in Bridlington has announced its closure due to the unprecedented challenges brought about by Covid-19.
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Rags Bar, Restaurant and Hotel, which is located adjacent to the harbour, will not reopen once the coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

Owners Julie and Les Dyl said they had taken the heartbreaking decision on Facebook saying it had been an emotional and testing time.

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They had taken over the running of the venue in 1996 and kick-started a restaurant that had been closed.

Rags hotel, restaurant and barRags hotel, restaurant and bar
Rags hotel, restaurant and bar

They managed to win a number of awards during their tenure.

In 2017, Bridlington Tourism Association made Rags Restaurant the winner of its annual Dining Experience Awards. In the same year Rags was given Top Rated status in the Simply The Guest Awards, which is run by booking website LateRooms.com.

Julie, in a Facebook statement, said: “What is proving to be a very emotional and difficult time for us, it is very moving to read the enormity of the supportive comments from everyone especially the staff regarding our heartbreaking decision to not reopen at Rags.

“We have made so many friends along the way and we always called ourselves the Rags Family.

Pictured in 2009, Julie (centre) and Les Dyl with Emily Pea, from Rags.Pictured in 2009, Julie (centre) and Les Dyl with Emily Pea, from Rags.
Pictured in 2009, Julie (centre) and Les Dyl with Emily Pea, from Rags.
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“We have had an amazing team of people help make Rags what it has been over the last 23 years and I can truly say that’s what we were we laughed together cried together supported each other and worried about each other .

“We have had so many lovely messages from all the staff saying Les and I were like second parents to them and we can truly say sometimes it felt like we had 30 children to cope with but we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

“We would like to thank all our lovely customers over the years who have supported us.”

“It's time now for other business to benefit from the caring and talented bunch who we have been so lucky to call ours for the last 23 years.”

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A message on the Rags Hotel website read: “It is with a heavy heart, that after 23yrs of trading as a small family business, due to the unprecedented challenges brought about by Covid-19, we need to inform our customers that the very difficult decision has been made to permanently close Rags Restaurant, Bar and Hotel and to liquidate our company.

“We have now instructed Redman Nichols Butler to assist with putting Rags Restaurant Ltd into a Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation. We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to all our regulars and friends for your continued custom.”

They have been wished well by a number of people, including Bridlington Pride, which said: “We are devastated to hear the news about one of our official sponsors and proud allies. We all wish Julie and Les the very best for whatever the future holds next for them.”

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