The owner of a Merchant City bar has said that 'eye-watering' costs have forced him to close his business after just 18 months.

Marmalade Skies opened in the winter of 2021 after manager and proprietor Nicholas Hay was inspired to take a leap of faith in the wake of covid lockdowns.

READ MORE: 'Bevy, banter and beats': New York inspired bar opens in Merchant City

At the time he told the Glasgow Times: "I took inspiration from The Beatles song ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ for the bar’s name as a dedication to my niece who joined the family during the first lockdown of 2020.

"Lucy came along at a time when I was thinking about what I wanted to do long term and I’ve always had the dream of having my own bar.

"I thought, if great things can come along at difficult times, there was no better time to try and make the dream a reality."

Glasgow Times:

Although the Merchant Square spot proved popular with regulars, little over a year later Nicholas has said that he will no longer be able to pursue his dream with the bar set to close imminently.

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Citing rising costs as the reason for his difficult decision to shut for good, he has warned that the industry will continue to suffer unless support is made available.

He said: "Myself and my partner Grant opened Marmalade Skies with a dream of joining the licensed trade in order to make a living, have fun and make our families proud.

“However specifically with Merchant Square the rent and additional cost of operating as part of the complex are eye wateringly high, the energy costs are beyond belief and the cost of living crises has hit customers' appetite to go out and spend.

“We had a dream and sadly it’s over.

“We’ve had a ball running our bar and meeting some fabulous loyal customers. But it’s time to go.

“I pray to god landlords, the council and the government take action on rents, rates and energy support otherwise there will be no one left trading in the industry let alone in the Merchant Square.”

The sad news comes after American diner chain Monterey Jack's also announced it would be shutting down its Merchant Square venue earlier this month.

READ MORE: 'We simply cannot survive': Another Glasgow restaurant closes amid rising costs

In a statement released on social media, a spokesperson said: "Sorry guys! We have tried our best.

"With the cost of energy, goods etc and trying to survive with the costs of our landlord's levy we simply cannot survive.

"We love you and thank you but must bid you farewell."

Find Marmalade skies on social media here.