City music institution Jazz Bar announces sudden closure
One of Edinburgh’s bestloved bars and live music venues has announced its sudden closure – after almost two decades.
The Jazz Bar, on Chambers Street, shared the sad news on Wednesday evening, saying the cost of living crisis coupled with operational challenges had “proved too much”.
The decision was announced just two days after the venue, which opened in 2005 and went on to become a local institution, posted an “emergency maintenance notice” on its website announcing a temporary closure due to a leak that required “immediate attention”.
The Jazz Bar was founded by musician and jazz enthusiast Bill Kyle after his previous venue, the Bridge Jazz Bar, was destroyed in the 2002 Old Town fire – just seven months after opening. After Bill passed away in 2016, The Jazz Bar was run by his daughter, Edith. Breaking the news of its permanent closure, a spokesperson for the venue said the team was “extremely proud to have served the musical community” and thanked musicians and patrons for their support.
A statement posted to the venue’s website said: “To our loyal patrons, musicians and friends, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden closure of The Jazz Bar. We are extremely proud to have served the musical community and audience providing live music almost every day for close to two decades.
“It has been particularly challenging for The Jazz Bar, with a massive variety of issues and challenges to work through. Despite extremely hard work and very positive progress to overcome these issues, the cost-of-living crisis coupled with operational challenges proved too much.
“The Jazz Bar is more than just a venue to many people. It was a cornerstone of a community and will be quite literally irreplaceable to the Edinburgh music scene and gig economy.
“When founder Bill Kyle began his journey to create The Jazz Bar, it was marked by perseverance and passion, surviving many challenges, including the original incarnation of the venue, ‘The Bridge Jazz Bar,’ burning down.
“After he sadly passed eight years ago, this perseverance was carried on by his wife Mary Ann and daughter Edith, who kept the business alive and carried forward her father’s legacy.”