Last orders for Ryde’s Kasbah

The well-known Moroccan-themed pub, the Kasbah, in Union Street, Ryde, appears set to be closing its doors at the end January.

The owner has announced that January 31 will be the bar’s last opening day.
Loreen Brown, landlady of the Kasbah, explained that the bar was closing due to her personal circumstances and those of her family.

Loreen explained: “The truth is after my father Nick died a year ago, I took on the running of the Kasbah to keep him alive (somehow) as this place was the last ten years of his life.

“At the time, I had a 6-month-old baby, and I was on maternity leave from my job in London, so I felt I could keep it going with the staff in place running the day to day things. As the months passed, I became more and more involved which meant taking me away from my baby and family. I was spending my weekends at the Kasbah and my weekdays doing the admin and accounts for the place. I was then neglecting my duties as a mother and wife.

“My world has been consumed by the Kasbah. My maternity leave ended, and I had to go back to my own job. As much as I love the Kasbah, it is a 24/7 job. With living and working in London, having a now 18-month-old baby to look after, along with being pregnant again, something had to give.

“It really is with great sadness that I must give up the Kasbah. I cannot thank the staff enough for all their hard work, support and loyalty over the past year, they truly are a great bunch of ladies.

“The freeholders, Heineken, are looking for new tenants, so I really do hope that after I leave, there will be new owners to carry it on.”