The West Kirby branch of Leaf has closed down.
Staff at the Black Horse Hill tea bar and restaurant, which opened in 2020 and employed around 20 staff, were told the news this morning.
The owner of the company, Natalie Haywood, told West Kirby Today it had been a “really tough decision” but that she “can’t see a way back” for the branch, particularly with the forthcoming increase in the national minimum wage.
She said: “It is incredibly heartbreaking and feels like a failure”, adding that where possible they are trying to redeploy staff to their other branches in Liverpool, which are not affected by the closure.
She said that since they had opened in 2020 their wage bill had risen by up to 55 per cent, and that the current economic climate is the toughest she has known since the company was formed in 2007.
Although they have been paid their wages and tips, staff will have to apply to creditors for notice period pay.
A sign on the door of Leaf West Kirby
In a statement, Leaf said: “We have taken the incredibly difficult and heartbreaking decision to close our doors In West Kirby with immediate effect.
“It’s been one hell of a ride opening 10 days before the country went into lockdown, surviving by hosting weekly food markets, emerging from the pandemic with unexpected debts and then crashing through the waves of the changing economic landscape these last few years. We’ve fought hard since we opened our doors but the time has come to say goodbye as the outlook for our fragile industry looks bleaker than ever.
“Confidence, profit margins and reserves have all been eroded after years of relentless cost pressures including huge energy increases, 40-55% wage increases (from 2020 to April 2025), supply shortages, labour shortages, supplier price increases, business rate increases, more government red tape and in turn more administrative costs. There is only so much of these costs that can be passed on to the consumer or swallowed by ourselves, until the business becomes unsustainable.
“We are extremely grateful for all the support and friendships we have made and will be sad to say goodbye to our team, regulars, Wirral community and lovely home. We’ve had some of the best times of our careers here and a particular highlight was meeting so many supportive customers at the lockdown food markets.
“Thank you for being part of our story. We will miss you dearly.”
As well as serving a wide range of teas, alcoholic drinks and food, it hosted a range of events including a pudding club and quizzes.
The company says that people with an event booked will be contacted in due course.
