If you happen to pass by busy Hollywood Road last Friday night, then you might have noticed that the often lively rum bar near the Soho escalator was quiet with its doors shut down. It was the first Friday that Rummin' Tings didn't open for their patrons and it will not be the only night as the bar permanently closes to the public.
Founded by two sets of brothers, Harsh and Rohit Roopchand and Manoj and Manesh Chellaram, Rummin' Tings opened in 2014 and since then offered tropical vibes on bustling Hollywood Road. The bar is one of the few places in Hong Kong that offer various types of rum accompanied by Caribbean themed cocktails and dishes. "With a heavy heart we decided to take the tough decision of closing with immediate effect as the next place to fall victim to the plight of Hong Kong landlords," says Harsh Roopchand, co-founder of 8 creATEive, the company behind Rummin' Tings, Amalfitana, and Fratelli.
Inside Rummin' Tings
Hong Kong bars temporarily shut their doors last April 3 due to government-mandated closures as part of the measures to control the spread of the virus. Many have since reopened, but for some establishments like Rummin' Tings, the mounting costs and loss of revenue forced some restaurant and bar owners to close their venues permanently. "We did not receive any support whatsoever from our landlord. We had been pleading with them for concessions ever since the protests last summer followed by the pandemic, yet saw nothing back from them. As a result, we decided to call it a day at this location as we wish not to work with people like that," shares Roopchand. "We coincidentally learnt that our late grandfather happened to occupy the very same shop back when he had business in HK, which made it all the more hard to part with," he says.
Roopchand says they are on the lookout for the right spaces and hope to bring Hong Kong something new in the future. For now, this little Caribbean escape on Hollywood Road will be surely missed.