Continual road closures and works have forced a closure announcement for the Nash Farm Shop.
Boss Cliff Gates and a loyal team of staff say the ongoing works have had a ‘devastating’ effect on trade meaning the shop, in Nash Road, Margate, is no longer viable.
The wholesale delivery and veg home box services will continue and it is aimed to expand this side of the business.
‘Great sadness’
In a statement on behalf of the Nash farm team it says: “It is with great sadness that as from Monday, August 20, Nash Farm shop in its current form will close. This will not have any effect on our wholesale delivery service or our veg box home delivery service. These will remain and are areas we will be promoting and expanding as we will still be based at the current shop address in Nash Road.
“We would like to thank our loyal customers for using us over the years we have operated and rest assured it is a decision that has not been taken lightly.
“However, the road closures and ongoing disruption around Nash Road have had a devastating effect on trade in recent years and the shop is no longer a viable option to staff and keep open.
“We know our entrance has been an issue over the years, we had hoped that new building works would lead to a new road/entrance for us but this does not appear imminent. So, we will be open this weekend and then Thursday, August 16 to Sunday, August 19 next week and this will be our last trading day. We hope many of our shop customers will take advantage of our home delivery service and support our veg, fruit and salad boxes.”
The Nash Farm shop has been run by Cliff and his team for almost a decade and before that it was operated by a farming couple who lived at the site.
The wholesale business, which is continuing, supplies many Thanet restaurants and catering businesses but the team say the road and building works made it virtually impossible for customers to reach the shop.
A spokesman added: “We are deeply saddened to have to close the shop and are hugely grateful to our loyal customers who have supported us and we hope to continue to be able to look after them in one way or another.”