The Pub Rookwood served its last pint of ale on Thursday, July 30, ending a 25-year run at the Rookwood Commons shopping center.

Tavern Restaurant Group, which owns the British-themed restaurant at 2692 Edmondson Road, announced the permanent closure on Wednesday, July 29, citing challenging economic conditions and rising operating costs. The company called the move a "strategic repositioning" of its Cincinnati-area presence, according to WCPO.

"While retiring this location is difficult, we feel it best aligns with our strategy for the success and future of the brand," CEO Nick Sanders said in a statement reported by WKRC.

Sanders, a longtime Cincinnati resident who founded Tavern Restaurant Group in 1981, opened The Pub Rookwood in 2001 after several trips to the United Kingdom inspired him to model restaurants on the warmth of European public houses. The restaurant's fish and chips earned a "Best Fish and Chips in the U.S." designation from Greene King Brewing, the UK's largest brewer and pub retailer, after judges from Bury St. Edmunds, England visited finalist locations across the country.

The closure leaves a gap in the 340,059-square-foot Rookwood Commons lifestyle center, managed by Hines. No replacement tenant has been announced.

The announcement came with little public warning. The Pub's own social media accounts were still promoting a Marvel Movie Trivia night on Tuesday, July 28, just two days before the final closing.

What's next for the brand

Tavern Restaurant Group said it will maintain a local Pub presence through three remaining locations:

  • The Pub London Street Food inside Element Eatery, a food hall at 5350 Medpace Way in Madisonville. The Pub's stall there opened in June 2025 and features the signature fish and chips alongside internationally inspired small plates.
  • A revamped bar section at deSha's in Symmes Township, meant to carry forward The Pub's atmosphere and hospitality
  • The Pub at Crestview Hills Town Center in Northern Kentucky

The company said it is working to support affected employees through the transition.

The Pub Rookwood's closure adds to a string of East Side restaurant departures in recent years. Red Feather Kitchen, an 11-year fixture on Madison Avenue in Oakley, closed in December 2024. Oakley Wines shut down in July 2025 after seven years.

No timeline has been given for the deSha's bar conversion, and the future of the Edmondson Road space remains unknown.