A popular County Durham restaurant and wine bar has closed after just 19 months in business.
The team behind The Giddy Goose, in Consett, announced the closure in an emotional message to customers, saying rising costs and a lack of trade had made it impossible to continue operating the restaurant.
In a statement shared on social media, the owners said: "After a rollercoaster of highs, lows and a lot of hard work, we've made the heart-breaking decision to close the restaurant with immediate effect.
"Rising costs and the restaurant not being busy enough have made it financially impossible to continue.
"We've fought with everything we have to keep our doors open, and this has been one of the hardest decisions we've ever had to make."
The closure comes just 19 months after owner Rhys Turner fulfilled a long-held ambition by opening the Newmarket Street venue.
Rhys Turner. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
The business began life as a small pizza trailer and quickly built a loyal following, earning a perfect five-star Google rating before making the leap to a permanent premises.
When the restaurant opened in April 2025, Rhys described the move as a "dream come true".
At the time, he said: "This has been a dream for years.
"We've worked on this project for 18 months plus and it's still sinking in.
"I don't think it has sunk in yet quite, yesterday I came up with my fiancée and we just stopped and looked and I'm like 'we've done it!'
"I'm really, really happy with the finished product, we're happy with the menu, the decor, we love it."
Despite the restaurant's closure, the owners have reassured customers that The Giddy Goose brand is not disappearing altogether.
Takeaway services will continue from Thursday to Sunday for the time being, allowing customers to continue ordering their pizzas while the business considers its next steps.
The statement added: "Please don't think this is goodbye to The Giddy Goose.
"This is goodbye to the restaurant, but not the end of our journey. We have lots of exciting ideas brewing for the future, so watch this space.
Read more
All staff lose jobs as County Durham firm founded by Sara Davies enters liquidation
New Italian restaurant to open in North East village today
Two Darlington restaurants named finalists for major curry industry award
"From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping turn our little pizza trailer into something we once only dreamed of. We'll never forget your support.
"The Goose isn't ready to fly away just yet."
The owners also paid tribute to their staff and thanked customers who had supported the business over the last four years, whether by visiting the restaurant, ordering takeaway food or buying pizzas from the original trailer.