English-style pub The Yard in River Valley calls last orders after 34 years

The oldest British-style pub in Singapore will be shutting its doors today, after 34 years on the scene.

The Yard pub in River Valley Road, with its clean white facade and stained glass windows, has been a popular watering hole for both locals and expatriates.

In the evenings, neon lights glowed brightly with the words "The Yard English Pub" and the number 294, the address of the bar - 294, River Valley Road.

Run by husband and wife duo Hillary Poon and Poon Mooi Hiang, both now in their mid-60s, the pub will be closing for good because there is no one to take over.

It is the latest place in the food and beverage sector to close because of succession problems, following prominent closures last year, such as Redhill Lor Duck Rice and Noodle and dim sum restaurant Hua Nam in Upper Thomson Road.

Mrs Poon, known to her regular customers as Michelle, told The Straits Times: "Both my children have their own jobs, so they will not take over this place as we do not want to disrupt their careers."

The couple's 30-year-old son is a local university researcher in the area of mechanical and aerospace engineering, and their 32-year-old daughter is a radiation therapist.

"On super busy days, they do come in and provide extra hands," said Mrs Poon.

After getting married in 1982, the Poons inherited the unit from Mr Poon's father. It was then an empty house. Mr Poon and his brother opened the pub upon returning from the United Kingdom after studying there for five years, with Mr Poon studying aeronautical engineering and his brother doing a medical degree.

Mrs Poon was also studying in the UK at that time to be a nurse, and that was how the couple met. She said the brothers wanted to bring a different concept to the dining scene.

Inspired by their time overseas, The Yard was born in November 1983. Features such as the stained glass windows and the curved wooden bar top in the front section gave the place the feel of an authentic British pub, along with dishes like fish and chips, burgers and pies.

The pub had a pool table, two dartboards and a television set showing mostly football matches.

Mrs Poon explained that The Yard, being the first pub in the area, had a head start bringing in the customers.

Many in the expatriate community drank there. Although a British-style pub, its customers were not just British.

More pubs started sprouting up in the area in the years that followed, giving The Yard a run for its money, but it managed to hold its own.

"Last time, Mohamed Sultan Road was the popular partying street and people would go there to club," said Mrs Poon.

"We would get the early crowd, who would come here for pre-drinks from 6pm, and head off somewhere between 9pm and 10pm, where there would be drinking and more drinking."

Until today, there are still curious passers-by, drawn by the exterior of the pub, popping in to take a look around.

The spacious non-smoking outlet has seen full-house crowds on special events, being fully booked during occasions such as Christmas and New Year's Eve.

In fact, it was on New Year's Eve last year that the Poons announced that they would be closing for good.

For Mrs Poon, the advent of the digital age was a significant checkpoint which helped to smoothen the running of the business later.

She attended classes at a community club to learn how to use a computer in the early 2000s. She learnt how to make posters with PowerPoint, how to use Excel and also to use e-mail, and started a mailing list for the pub. "All these made running the business much simpler."

Her children taught her how to use Facebook, and that was how she managed to start the pub's page.

And the pub's regular patrons were helpful too. "The first time a local magazine asked for information about our pub, some regulars helped me put together a press release," she added.

Mrs Poon counts getting to know a lot of people as her favourite part of the job, and said she considers some regulars as friends.

"Some regulars bring their children here too. A pub can be a place for a family to eat and hang out, and not just for people to get drunk and unruly," she said.

"There are some who celebrate their child's first month here. One regular customer's son is starting primary school this year, and we saw him grow up over the years. I feel old, but it's really nice to see the families bonding."

Mr Izumi Hashioka, 60, who does administrative work in the construction industry, visits the pub at least weekly.

"I have been coming here for six years, and would have a pint of beer or two each time. The staff are friendly, warm and kind," said the Japanese national.

He first visited the pub while living in River Valley, but returned regularly after moving to Tiong Bahru.

"I was shocked when I learnt that this place will be closing as I've lost a familiar place to visit and drink."

The Poons have not really thought about what to do with the building now. "We have had inquiries from people asking how much it is to take over and such. But we haven't actually had this place valued yet," said Mrs Poon, adding that she and her husband would like to keep the unit since it was an inheritance from her father-in-law.

In the beginning, the pub opened seven days a week. Over time, the Poons took every Sunday off, and then later, every Monday too, because they needed more rest.

They live in Bukit Timah and it takes them about 45 minutes to drive to work. Sometimes it can be 2.30am by the time they reach home after closing for the night.

"The Yard will retire with us. It was a difficult decision to make as we are so used to this lifestyle. For now, however, we are too tired to be sad."