After 10 years at its Castlegate premises, the award-winning Pairings Wine Bar has confirmed that it will be closing its doors at close of business on Sunday 26 January 2026. This family-run business, created by sisters Kate Latham and Kelly Gamble, was keen to reassure customers that guests are still welcome to visit.
Anyone holding vouchers should try to redeem them for as long as the bar remains open, although refunds will be given to the original purchaser, if that’s not possible: email hello@pairings.co.uk with the voucher code. Any existing bookings made for after the closure date will be cancelled, and guests will be contacted directly with further information. At time of writing, the website had not yet been updated.
The owners are also keen to stress that the closure has not been caused by financial or performance concerns. It’s more a case of having their hand forced by circumstance.
Unfortunately for Pairings, the landlord has decided to take back the property to operate it under a different brand, making the loss of the premises unavoidable. Kate and Kelly had actually been planning for the past few few months to relocate the bar to another, larger, nearby venue space on the same street, but, in the end, extensive planning challenges and some significant unforeseen costs made the move unviable for them.
Not the end of the Pairings story
However, this does not mark the end for Pairings. Kate and Kelly are keen to emphasise that it will only mark the close of this particular chapter of their story. They are now spending time exploring other opportunities for the future in York and the surrounding region.
Kelly commented: “We want to be absolutely clear – this is not the end of our story. Pairings has always been driven by passion: a genuine love for hospitality, for our team, and for every guest who walks through our doors. We are immensely proud of what we’ve built and deeply grateful for the loyalty, kindness, and support our guests continue to show us.”
“We’re incredibly proud of what Pairings stands for – genuine warmth, deep knowledge, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to looking after people,” added Kate. “We want customers to understand that this change reflects circumstances beyond our control, not the performance of the business. While we may be stepping away from Castlegate, we are not stepping away from what makes Pairings special.”
On a slightly more positive note, the much-loved Pairings team will remain employed, with their job security being a key priority throughout the transition period. The bar owners have also stressed their ongoing commitment to their team and their guests.
Pairings’ table service bar with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere has gained it an enviable reputation with customers and reviewers alike. Small plates and sharing boards, featuring the best in locally-sourced produce (dietary requirement inclusive, where possible), all paired with fine wines or cocktails has formed the basis of their success. The owners are clearly passionate about what they serve and protecting Pairings’s reputation remains their priority.
“Our hand has been forced,” said Kate. “We’ve fought hard because our people matter – our team, our guests, and our community. We explored every possible option to remain in the city centre, driven by our commitment to protect meaningful careers and the warm, welcoming experience Pairings is known for. Unfortunately, there is no viable route that allows us to continue trading at this time.”
The closure was announced on the wine bar’s Facebook page on Tuesday 20 January, and very quickly received hundreds of messages of support and sympathy on social media.
Adapted from a press release.
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