Hundreds of diners and drinkers have already taken to social media to express their sorrow at the announced closure.
Sisters Kate and Kelly Latham announced the shock closure on Facebook.
The pair posted this afternoon: “This is a message we never expected to share.
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“After 10 wonderful years on Castlegate, our final day of trading will be Sunday 25 January 2026.
“Our landlords will be taking back the building to operate their own venture under a completely different brand to Pairings.
“We had been working hard on plans to relocate nearby, but this became unviable due to planning and budget challenges far beyond what we could reasonably overcome.”
“We want to be clear: this is not a decision we made by choice. We’ve explored every possible option, but our hand has been forced.”
Kate and Kelly said those with vouchers should try and use them before the Sunday closure but the purchasers would be fully refunded.
Kate, left, and Kelly Latham of wine bar Pairings (Image: Pic supplied)
The sisters added: “Our incredible team will remain employed through the transition.
“Most importantly, this is not the end of Pairings. We remain committed to hospitality, to our guests, and to finding the right next step when the time is right.
“Thank you for 10 years of loyalty, love, laughter, and support.”
The Press approached Pairings for comment but the phone was engaged and a ‘bounce back’ email said that due to the closure announcement, they were experiencing a “very high volume of enquiries.”
In the ten years it has been open Pairings has gained a top reputation for wine, cocktails, charcuterie and cheeses.
It was the venue lovers loved to love, with Tripadvisor ranking its 15th best in the world to go on ‘date night.’
One of the platters at Pairings in York (Image: Pic supplied)
Last May, the sisters announced a move from 28 Castelegate to a larger site nearby.
In August, they applied for a premises license for 18 Castlegate, which they received in September.
However, the relocation failed to happen.
As stated earlier, Pairings was a popular wine bar and deli, receiving 4.8 stars out five on Tripadvisor based on 1,778 reviews, ranking it 13th out of 776 restaurants in York.
Google also awards Pairings 4.8 stars out of five, based on 1,018 Google reviews.
Within a couple of hours, more than 600 people had responded to the message, with the announcement attracting 300 comments.
One said: “I am devastated to hear this. 10 years is a crux, landlords cannot hold rents forever and rarely can they afford to negotiate. Many, many restaurants end after this critical time.
“You are one of my favourite places in the world (literally). Your attention to detail, your desire to be inclusive (gf, thank you!) your care and dedication to quality and research into great food, and your staff is bar none!”
The exterior of Pairings (Image: Pic supplied)
Another commented: “Absolute gem of a place, let’s hope you find the perfect place, and up and running again very soon.”
And another added: “Very sad news. Thank you for the lovely service, food and drink you’ve provided over the years. My wife and I have enjoyed every visit.”