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The Gatehouse in Caerphilly announced that it has closed its doors for the final time, blaming “unsustainable costs” on the difficult decision.

Owner of Gatehouse, Lee Edwards, left a heartfelt message on the café door, thanking its “loyal and lovely customers”, before stating it was now “impossible to carry on”, just two years after opening.

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer, Mr Edwards said: “For us it ultimately came down to rent. We’d been in arrears since Covid and never got out.

“We had to make a decision as it wasn’t sustainable anymore. It was horrendous having to let go of our 30 members of staff, but we made sure they all got paid at least.”

The Gatehouse closed its doors on the same day as popular café, The Bank, in Newbridge.

Mr Edwards continued: “We’re a family-run, independent business and it’s just such a shame. We aren’t the first to go under and we wont be the last.

“The costs get to the point where you have to consider putting them on to the customer but we couldn’t do that. It’s not fair.

“I put my heart and soul into that place and it’s honestly had a massive impact on my mental state. I did my best and I’d just like to once again thank everyone for their support.”