LUCARLY’S IN SHOCK CLOSURE
FEARS FOR POPULAR VENUE AND BAR
LUCARLY’S, the well-known bar ar and venue once owned by Grimsby Lottery winner Roy Gibbney, has closed suddenly.
The latest management team m behind the bar has announced on n Facebook that they are stepping g away from the business after three years in charge of the Humberston pub - leaving a question mark over its future.
The shock closure has created a lot of concern for those with bookings at the venue, a well-known place for people to host wedding receptions, birthdays, and more. They appear to be being offered refunds or the option of waiting for their plans to be honoured by anybody who takes over.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, Lucarly’s said: “Well today is the last day for the current management. We’d like to thank everybody who has visited and supported us in the last 3 years & 4 months.
“Our belief is the venue will be closed temporarily but keep a look out. Take care everybody from the current management and staff.” The news has come as a shock for a lot of people, with many wanting the pub to return to better days under new management. Commenting on GrimsbyLive’s Facebook page, Elaine Loche said: “What a shame, it used to be good years ago especially when you paid a small membership fee. “They did line dancing, bingo, seasonal events like bonfire night, Halloween, Christmas parties. “Sometimes had local bands on. Nobody putting effort into it now.
So bad.”
Andrew Clennett thinks that the closure may be related to pressures faced by pubs due to Covid-19. He commented: “Only the first in a wave of pub/ club closures that will be happening.” Alan Redgrift also supported this, commenting: “And still people demand lockdown. All okay until it’s their job.” Lucarly’s, formerly The Club, in Humberston was bought by multi-millionaire lottery winner, Roy Gibney, back in 2000.
Winning £7.5 million in 1998 and becoming Grimsby ‘s first every lottery winner, Roy decided to buy the venue for his daughters to run, and even named it after them.
At the time, Roy said that he bought the club because his daughters were struggling to find work and wanted to give them an opportunity to show how hardworking they are. Speaking to the Grimsby Telegraph back in 2000, he said: “It makes me angry because no one will give them a job. Employers think because of who the girls are, they will give up their jobs after five minutes.
“But they are good workers and very loyal to their bosses.
“I am confident they will make a go of it. They were nervous at first, but when I explained I’ll be there to help them if they need me, then they got excited about it.”
Since Roy took over the pub, it become a well-known and loved venue, with everything from weddings and reunions to charity events being hosted there.
It was also a popular venue for sports teams and fun days.
The pub was handed over to new management in 2007 as his daughters moved on to different things. It is understood he may still own the building, but leaves the running of the pub up to separate management.
Roy moved to Nairns in Scotland shortly after handing the pub over, but then later returned to the Grimsby area.