'Treasure the memories, as I undoubtedly will': Family-run Northern Ireland restaurant closes after over 50 years as hundreds share shock and support
Hundreds of customers and friends have shared messages of support after Tom’s Dining Rooms/Skandia Restaurants announced it will soon close its Bangor premises, bringing to an end more than 50 years in the city
A Northern Ireland restaurant group is to close its Bangor premises, bringing to an end more than 50 years of service to the local community.
Tom’s Dining Rooms/Skandia Restaurants has announced that it will cease trading in Bangor in the coming weeks, with final trading dates to be confirmed shortly. The decision marks the end of a long-standing presence in the city, during which the restaurant has operated under several different names.
The group said the move had been taken with “deep sadness”, but confirmed that its other restaurants — Neill’s Hill and Pepito in Belfast — will continue to operate as normal.
In a statement posted on social media, owner Andrew Davis paid tribute to customers, staff and the wider Bangor community.
"It is with deep sadness that I need to inform you that Tom's Dining Rooms / Skandia Restaurants will be calling time after over 50 years of serving food in Bangor,” he posted.
"It has been a privilege for our family to be part of the Bangor community, serving so many people and helping to create wonderful memories of all kinds of celebrations over the years."
Mr Davis also thanked the many staff who had worked across the group’s various Bangor-based restaurants over the decades.
"To the many, many staff who gave their all to Skandia, Bungy Jump, Papa Joe's and Tom's, thank you for your loyal and faithful service. It will always be greatly appreciated. We could never have done it without you.
"We will shortly confirm our final trading dates. Please note that all vouchers will be honoured in Tom's over the next few weeks, and thereafter in our other two restaurants, Neill's Hill and Pepito."
Concluding his message, Mr Davis apologised to customers for the closure and reflected on the legacy of the business in the city.
He added: "Thank you so much to all of you who have been so supportive of our restaurants over the years. Finally, my sincere apologies that this time to bid farewell has come. Treasure the memories, as I undoubtedly will.
"Thank you and God bless."
In response, hundreds of customers and friends flooded social media with messages of thanks and shared memories, posting close to 400 comments and 1,000 ‘likes’ in tribute to the family’s decades of service.