‘We’ve simply run out of money’ historic butcher tells shoppers in sad note as it announces closure after 130 years

A BUTCHER that has been trading from the same premises since 1890 has shut up shop for the final time.

GH Porter Provisions in Nottinghamshire announced the news on social media stating the decision to close was with “great sadness”.

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Tom Blakemore, owner of the Newark butchers, said the business could not continue as they had “simply run out of money”.

He described how trade had fallen in the last year as people adjusted to the cost of living crisis, and that a “spate of prominent business closures” in the town had added to the uncertainty.

In the heartfelt statement, he said: “We are all aware of the huge challenges the country faces and sadly GH Porters is not immune.

“At one point, our energy bills rose from £600 per month to £3,000 and while they have slipped back we are still paying 150% more than we did 18 months ago.”

He went on to describe how the input costs of raw materials such as pork, beef and cheese had increased by as much as 60%.

“We have found it hard to pass these increases on to our customers meaning margins have been squeezed at a time when other costs are rising too”, he said.

Despite trying to keep up by modifying the product offering and taking the business online he said that it has not been enough.

He added: “I feel like I have let everyone down, particularly our fantastic suppliers, wonderful staff and loyal customers. I am sorry.”

Mr Blakemore has asked anyone who would like to take on GH Porters to get in touch with him.

Many businesses on the high street are struggling with the rising energy bills and a drop in the number of customers through the door.

Shoppers are changing the way they spend with more people choosing to shop online.

Households are also budgeting more carefully which means that a weekend shopping trip to the high street has become less of an attraction.

Every week shops, banks and pubs are pulling the shutters down for the final time leaving local high streets with rows of empty shops.

Larger retailers are also feeling the impact as was recently seen with one familiar high street favourite.

Much-loved discounter Wilko collapsed into administration in August and all of its stores will be closed by early October, resulting in thousands of job losses.

Other major retailers such as House of Fraser, Matalan and Wetherspoons are also preparing to shut some of their branches for good.

But surprisingly it is not bad news for all as some retailers are expanding.

Poundland has opened several stores this month, including Ipswich and Cardiff.

B&M is also looking to open seven new branches across the UK in the forthcoming weeks.

We have done a round-up of all of the high street chains closing sites in September.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk