Shock as sudden closure of farm shop announced
Keelham Food Hall announced its closure via a Facebook post
- Published
A large farm shop in North Yorkshire has closed, with “financial” reasons being blamed for the move.
It was announced on Thursday that Keelham Food Hall in Skipton, formerly known as Keelham Farm Shop, was to shut "at least for the moment".
The company did not say how many jobs had been lost, but its latest accounts, filed in 2022, showed it employed 145 people.
A spokesperson said it was hoped a new buyer would “step up and continue the shop”.
The closure also affected its on-site restaurants - the Keelham Kitchen and Knead Pizzeria - as well as the Kind at Keelham fitness centre, according to a statement on Keelham's Facebook page.
The statement said: “Unfortunately due to financial situations, the decision has been taken at least for the moment to close Keelham Food Hall, Keelham Kitchen, Kind at Keelham and Knead Pizzeria.
“There is hope that a new buyer will step up and continue the shop and re-employ a great deal of the staff.
"But these things don't happen overnight, unfortunately, so please bear with us.
“I'm sure further details will be released as they become available," the statement said.
The company's spokesperson added that “as an employee of Keelham and a local”, they would like to see the brand continue as it had “been with us for many years now”.
They said: “I've enjoyed working there and working alongside the other staff members.”
'Closed until further notice'
Keelham Food Hall’s online store also appeared to have closed, with no items for sale on Friday.
Meanwhile, according to its website, the Kind at Keelham fitness centre was "closed until further notice".
Customers left comments saying they were shocked and saddened by the news of the closures.
The 25,000 sq ft (2,323 sq m) farm shop in Skipton was opened in 2015 by sister and brother team Victoria and James Robertshaw.
It was a second unit for their original Keelham farm shop in Thornton, Bradford.
The two farm shop businesses separated in 2019 and the Skipton business was sold to investors in 2020.
The company has been approached for comment.
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