Family-Run Coffee Business Forced to Close After 12 Years
Synge Byrne, the popular coffee chain founded by brothers Damien and Adrian Garvey, has announced the immediate closure of all its Northern Ireland operations. The company, which launched its first store in Newtownabbey, County Antrim in December 2013, operated 12 locations across the region including Belfast, Londonderry, Dungannon, and Newry. The sudden shutdown affects approximately 80 employees who have lost their jobs as the business ceased trading.
Director Damien Garvey expressed deep regret over the closures, acknowledging the dedicated staff who contributed to the business over more than a decade. The brothers, who have over 20 years of experience in the café industry, built Synge Byrne into a recognizable brand throughout Northern Ireland. Their expansion strategy initially focused on the North, with additional outlets opening in Newry and County Derry in 2014, before eventually crossing the border into the Republic of Ireland in 2020.
Operating Costs and Debt Force Difficult Decision
The primary factor behind the closures centres on unsustainable operating costs that have plagued the hospitality sector across Northern Ireland. Damien Garvey stated that despite exhaustive efforts to save the business, mounting difficulties proved insurmountable in the current market environment. The combination of soaring expenses and an increasing debt burden left the company with no alternative but to shut its doors permanently.
The closure highlights the severe financial pressures facing hospitality businesses in the region, where operational expenses have continued to climb without corresponding support mechanisms. Synge Byrne Abbey Ltd, the company that owns the chain, made the decision after determining that continuing operations would only deepen financial losses. The business had attempted various strategies to remain viable, but the challenging economic conditions ultimately proved too severe to overcome.
Stark Contrast Between North and South Operations
Whilst Synge Byrne's Northern Ireland cafes have closed, all five outlets in the Republic of Ireland will remain open and continue trading. The most recent southern location opened in March 2025, demonstrating the company's confidence in the Republic's market conditions. The southern expansion began in 2020 with a store in County Galway, followed by locations in County Donegal, County Mayo, and two Dublin outlets at Blanchardstown Centre and the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks.
This geographical divide in the company's fortunes reflects broader differences in the business environment between the two jurisdictions. The Republic of Ireland operations have proven sustainable where the Northern Ireland branches could not, despite operating under the same brand and management structure. The divergence underscores how regional policy differences can dramatically impact business viability within the hospitality sector, even for companies with proven track records and established customer bases.
Industry Experts Warn of Widespread Hospitality Crisis
Colin Neill from Hospitality Ulster described the closure as tragic and warned that similar situations will become increasingly common. Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today, Neill noted that many people have been shocked by the loss of such a well-known brand. He emphasized that the industry has repeatedly provided government officials with extensive evidence demonstrating the unsustainable financial position facing hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland.
Neill highlighted the significant disparity in VAT rates between the two jurisdictions as a critical factor. The Republic of Ireland's VAT rate on hospitality food is set to decrease from 13.5% to 9% in July 2026, whilst Northern Ireland maintains a rate of 20%. This substantial difference creates a competitive disadvantage for businesses operating in the North, making profitability increasingly difficult to achieve. Neill stated bluntly that he could not honestly advise anyone to open a hospitality business in Northern Ireland today, as they would likely lose money in the current climate.
Warning Signs for Northern Ireland's Hospitality Sector
The Synge Byrne closure serves as a stark warning about the future of hospitality businesses across Northern Ireland. Industry representatives have consistently cautioned that without policy changes or additional support, more closures are inevitable. The loss of 80 jobs from a single coffee chain demonstrates the human cost of these economic pressures, affecting families and communities throughout the region.
The situation reflects broader challenges facing the sector, where established businesses with loyal customer bases are struggling to survive despite strong demand for their services. The fact that Synge Byrne successfully operated for over a decade before succumbing to current conditions suggests that recent changes in the operating environment have been particularly severe. Without intervention addressing the fundamental cost structures and competitive disadvantages, Northern Ireland risks losing significant portions of its hospitality infrastructure, potentially creating food and beverage deserts in communities that previously enjoyed thriving café cultures.