The Olde Towne Portsmouth building that houses the Gosport Tavern gastropub has been sold and the restaurant will close after 11 years.
Health issues among the ownership were cited as the reason behind the sale of the building at 702 High Street, near Green Street. Robert Weedon owned the building and was co-owner of Gosport with Jennifer Ford and Eric Stevens.
The restaurant’s last day will be June 22. The sale on the building to Kenny Bullock will close July 1, Stevens said. The property includes two condo units above the restaurant, which is known for its selection of craft beers and comfort food.
The news didn’t sit well with loyal customers. Some wrote on social media that they were heartbroken; one gave his last respects to the “best chicken tenders and chicken sandwich ever.”
Stevens said he was sad about the restaurant’s closing, too.
“We’ve been a part of that community for 11 years. Between the residents of Olde Towne and the guys who work at the shipyard and the people visiting the hospital, it’s heartbreaking to leave that.”
What’s next for the restaurant? Stevens said he wasn’t sure what the new owner had planned or whether a new restaurant would open after the sale. An employee outside the restaurant on Thursday speculated that it would reopen under new ownership.
But for now, Gosport’s current ownership encouraged everyone to stop by one last time. Its sister restaurants, Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas in Olde Towne and The Public House in Norfolk will remain open.
Rekaya Gibson, 757-295-8809, rekaya.gibson@virginiamedia.com; on X, @gibsonrekaya
