Shock as popular Kilkenny city-centre café to close this week

ONE of Kilkenny city-centre’s best-known cafés has announced it is closing this week.

Willoughby’s Café on the Parade will open for the final time this Wednesday. It has been in business for five years.

In a statement issued via social media over the weekend, Willoughbys said the recent Government decision to increase the VAT rate contributed to its decision.

Willoughbys thanked all of their customers and said it has been “a rollercoaster ride” over the past five years but said it could no longer operate as a business beyond this week.

Their statement read: “So this Wednesday 12th of June Willoughbys Cafe will open its doors for the last time. It has been a rollercoaster of a ride for the last 5 years but due to the increase in government charges to the food sector Willoughbys cafe can no longer provide a cafe service. We at Willoughbys would like to thank all our customers over the years both local and worldwide for there [sic] custom.”