The owners of an iconic pub in Swords have called time on their popular northside watering hole.

The Lord Mayors Pub on the main street in the village has been operating on the same spot as a pub since 1668.

But the landmark pub - which also features an off licence, gastro pub and music venue - has been losing money, is in debt and is no longer sustainable, owner Robert Savage said in a letter to staff on Wednesday.

All 27 staff at the pub are facing the possibility of what he termed 'collective redundancy'. Co-owner Michael Savage declined to comment last night on the impending closure.

But in the letter to staff, a copy of which was obtained by the Herald, Robert Savage revealed the news.

Regret

"It is with regret that we have called a meeting of the management and staff of the Lord Mayors Pub/Off Licence Ltd to inform you that the continuing loss making position of the business requires a collective redundancy and closure at a future date yet to be decided," he said.

"Regrettably all employees of the company could be effected by the collective redundancy. There are 27 staff currently employed by the business.

"The period during which these redundancies will occur will be discussed during a 30 day consultation period commencing on Thursday, April 25, 2019."

The letter requests staff to elect three representatives to engage with management during the consultation.

But it also advises that despite the company's recognition that all staff have an entitlement to Statutory Redundancy payments, ''the company simply does not have the cash reserves to make such payments."