It may seem cliched to describe a place as an institution, but for most Lan Kwai Fong regulars, Hardy's Folk Club in D'Aguilar Street would be an exception. In a city where bars seem to come and go with the season, Hardy's has maintained its 1,000 sq ft space at the top of D'Aguilar Street since 1985. But on Saturday, September 29, last drinks will be called and guitarist Bonnie Aquino will strum the chords for one last tipsy singer. Then, Hardy's will close its doors. At least, until they can find another venue. Manager Peter Spiby said the bar had been hit by a rent increase from HK$200,000 a month to HK$300,000, which made the business unsustainable. He said the bar had won hearts and left many hazy memories with its free-wheeling atmosphere. 'You can come here to drink, laugh and get up on stage and sing your favourite song,' he said. 'We have had the same customers. It's not pretentious, anything goes. And let me tell you, when we have a private party, everything goes.' Mr Spiby recounted just a few of the epic stories that he would always remember. There was the Fijian rugby team that arrived on the Saturday night after the Sevens, drank and sang, left at daylight, and then went onto the field and won the competition. And there was the British soldier who managed to nurse his drink into an ambulance after passing out. Patron Michael Geraghty has been coming to the bar since it opened 22 years ago. 'I've probably bought this place about twice, given how much I've spent,' he said. 'We've married, buried and born numerous individuals in that time. It's simply an institution.' Guitarist Aquino, who had been playing on stage since 1989, was sorry Hardy's would be lost. 'There have been some crazy parties over the years,' he said. And the song he believed would be his last? 'Country Roads - it's played so many times every night.'
