'Voyage over' - Bosses call time on long-standing South Shields' pub The Voyager

A South Tyneside pub and live music venue is calling time after telling punters it is closing for business – but a party is planned by the last band standing.

The Voyager, in Anderson Street, central South Shields, has confirmed online its final pint will be pulled this weekend.

But confusion reigned, as in separate Facebook posts, bosses named the dates as both tomorrow/Sunday and Tuesday.

Despite the sad news, covers band The Gaslighters confirmed they would perform a last gig at the boozer on Sunday, telling fans: “No work on Monday so let’s party!!!”

No reason for the shutdown was given, but in an online statement, bosses said: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the closure of The Voyager pub.

“We will be closing the doors for the last time on Sunday the 24th of May.

“It has been a great privilege to have listened to some great music with everyone who has supported us over the last few years.”

In a separate message, they said: “We will sadly be closing our doors from Tuesday 26th May, sorry, we don’t know what will be happening with the venue going forward.”

Gaslighters singer John Doonan confirmed in his Facebook post that his band was set to play from 8pm on Sunday.

He said: “The Gaslighters will be the last band playing at this iconic music venue in South Shields this coming Bank Holiday Sunday.

“Get yourselves along and say goodbye to mine hosts Karen and Chris before they close the doors for the last time. No work on Monday so let’s party.”

One punter wrote on the same social media site: “Sad to hear this. The Voyager was the end of our pub crawl in the late 70s before we went in Ruperts.

“Seen some great bands in there this last 16 months after moving back to South Shields.”

The Voyager was closed when the Gazette attempted to contact managers and there was no response to a request for comment via Facebook.