New sports bar set to open in Derbyshire town – replacing pub that closed suddenly after company collapsed

A new sports bar is arriving in a Derbyshire town – taking on a premises vacated by a pub company’s collapse last year.
By Tom Hardwick
Published 14th Feb 2024, 15:39 BST

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The RABONA Sports Bar and Cantina is taking over a vacant building at 5 Dale Road in Matlock town centre.

In a Facebook post, the team behind RABONA confirmed that the town’s latest venue would be opening its doors in March – but an exact date has not yet been confirmed.

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The premises was formerly occupied by the Pointing Dogs pub, which closed its doors suddenly in October 2023 after the Real Brewing Pub Company – an arm of the Derby Brewing Company – entered administration.

The Pointing Dogs first opened in October 2022, but closed suddenly 12 months later after the company that launched the venue collapsed. It is now set to become a sports bar called RABONA.The Pointing Dogs first opened in October 2022, but closed suddenly 12 months later after the company that launched the venue collapsed. It is now set to become a sports bar called RABONA.
The Pointing Dogs first opened in October 2022, but closed suddenly 12 months later after the company that launched the venue collapsed. It is now set to become a sports bar called RABONA.

The Real Brewing Company issued a statement discussing the “extremely challenging trading environment over the last couple of years” – with factors leading to their collapse including “the pandemic, increased loan burdens on the back of this, ongoing recruitment challenges, soaring interest rates and supplier cost increases.”

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RABONA are currently searching for supervisors, bartenders and chefs for their new venture. For more information or to apply, head to the RABONA Facebook page here.

Related topics:DerbyshireFacebookDale RoadMatlock