A Prestatyn butcher has announced they will be closing their shop on Mondays, as the rising costs of food and electricity pose a threat to the business’ survival.
The popular Prestatyn Family Butchers, located on the town’s High Street, has announced that the store would close to start each week due to the rising cost of electricity and food throughout the UK.
The energy price cap will go up by a further 80 per cent from October 1, affecting 24 million people in England, Scotland and Wales. Those on default tariffs and paying by direct debit will see their bills increase by £1,578 a year to £3,549, while prepayment customers’ payments will rise by £1,591 a year to £3,608.
Nick Bickerstaff, who owns and runs the Prestatyn Butchers, told the Journal that the increases were “scary” and had forced the change in opening times.
“I can’t turn anything off in my shop, I cannot change anything in my shop,” said Nick.
“Every fridge that I have got has to be on – there is one that I don’t have on at the beginning of the week and I have it on towards the weekend because there’s an influx of footfall.
“It is a bit scary, but the electric is going to go up and up and maybe up again so going forward, my wife suggested closing on the Monday.
“I’m going to have to close just to see if we can make any sort of inroads to keeping our head above water rather than close the shop in the future.”
The business intend to close on Mondays beginning September 19, and Nick added that the decision to do so is an “upsetting” one given how much time, money and hard work the family had invested in the shop.
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“It’s taken us four years to build this business, we spent £50,000 in here, and have not loaned any money – it’s all been put back into the business, using our personal savings as well,” Nick continued.
“It’s quite frightening really – we helped out nine different communities while Covid was going, didn’t charge for deliveries.”
Nick’s sources his meat from nearby Llanrwst, and will not buy cheaper meat to the possible detriment of his business.
Having overcome the worst of the pandemic, this current trial threatens to overwhelm the business, and others like it in North Wales.
“It’s a bit deflating now to think that the electric is going to go up and by this time next year, if not earlier, I might have to shut my shop which, at the age of 52, is quite upsetting.
“After what we’ve spent in the shop and built up, I don’t want to go looking for another store manager’s job again.
“It is quite upsetting to think we are not getting any [Government] support, as far as I’m concerned.
“I spoke to another butcher who lives in Shotton, and he said that his energy bills cost £2,000 a month, and that if he gets to £3,000, he will have to shut his shop.
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“Before these energy hikes started to kick in, quite a few [butcher] shops across the country were closing anyway due to Covid, coming out of Covid, and people going back to ‘normal’ shopping.
“I’ve got to pay rent to the landlord as I don’t own the building – I’m lucky my wife is a mental health nurse because I don’t know what I’d do without that help.”
This candid evaluation of the situation is telling, especially since the premises has housed a butchers shop for 109 years, Nick having taken over from the Roberts family.
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