Two bars in Barnsley’s flagship Glass Works closed over unpaid rent as owner fights to save up to 60 jobs

The Salt House, a restaurant and cocktail bar, and Black + White, a wine bar, in Barnsley town centre’s Glass Works were taken into Barnsley Council’s possession on October 23.

The council say there are ‘substantial unpaid rents of over £100,000 across the leases for both premises’.

A statements adds that after more than a year of trying to resolve the issue , they had to ‘regrettably’ take action to ‘protect public money’.

However, Darton East Liberal Democrat councillor Mat Crisp, who runs the True Independent Group, says that he is working ‘actively and aggressively’ to try and find a solution to keep the bars open, and save up to 60 jobs.

Councillor Crisp told the local democracy reporting service that the closure had come as a ‘complete shock’, and that he hoped to work with the council to find a solution.

“We were under the assumption we worked through this, and to wake up to it has knocked us for six.”

“I’m a Barnsley lad that got into hospitality in 2019, to better Barnsley.

“Our team has been working frantically over the last six months to to get into a position where the investment was just about starting to turn good.

I have put everything on the line to work with the Glass Works and this authority to deliver hospitality businesses.

"I never asked for COVID to happen.

"I never asked for the Ukraine war to start and increase my costs beyond belief after I entered the contract.

"I've been hit with so many curveballs since we started operations.

“We’re now actively and aggressively trying to negotiate a solution.”

Councillor Crisp said that some staff members had been ‘in tears’ over the news, having worked hard to build up The Salt House since it opened in 2022.

Barnsley Council added in its statement: “This decision has not been taken lightly – as we know these are popular venues – but such action is necessary where tenants repeatedly fail to meet their lease and rental obligations.

“We’ll continue to pursue the rent arrears owed.”