Redback Tavern in London closed down

THE REDBACK TAVERN, a London favourite of Aussie and Kiwi expat party-goers has been forced to close its doors, perhaps for good.

The Acton venue closed for business at the weekend. Sources today told Australian Times it is not absolutely certain yet that the closure will be permanent and that the Redback’s management will be meeting with concerned parties on Tuesday next week to determine the bar’s ultimate fate.

The closure comes in the wake of ongoing licensing issues for The Redback. The Antipodean live music venue and infamous drinking hole had recently been forced by local authorities to reduce its opening hours following growing neighbourhood complaints about rowdy late night revellers exiting the venue, with police increasingly being called on to deal with scuffles and other drunken behaviour.

An online petition was mounted by ‘The Reddie’ faithful in an attempt to keep the cheap snakebites flowing late, but the Ealing Council had obviously had enough.

The hit to the Redback Tavern’s takings as a result of the enforced earlier closing hours may turn out to be the fatal blow to the business which was already struggling from the recession that has hit the UK bars and pubs sector particularly hard.

The Redback in Acton has been a mainstay of the Australian and New Zealander expat scene in London since first opening in 1993.

News of the closure has lead to an outpouring of affection on the Redback’s Facebook page from the Antipodean community in London and those back at home with fond memories of wilder times.

“Cheers Reddie, thanks for all the great memories, sad day,” posted Michael Streeter.

“9 years later and it was still my fave bar. Gutted beyond belief. I was even celebrating my birthday there on Saturday. Met so many friends there, gutted xx,” commented Jo Marron.

“So, so saddened by the loss of my favourite London burrow :( the only place with lunatics and good live music combined,” wrote Vanessa Flood.

The closure has already earned a ‘Hitler Downfall’ parody video – Redback: The Downfall (warning: explicit language).

Will you miss the Redback in Acton? What are your fondest (or worst) memories of the Reddie? Leave your comments below.