This morning’s newsletter may unfortunately feel all too familiar. Yes, we have been here before but the issue remains and it’s becoming increasingly harder to ignore – and perhaps more convoluted.
In the last number of weeks we have witnessed the loss of four popular cafés from Portadown’s high street.
It follows just four months on from our last newsletter highlighting that several of the borough’s valued bars and restaurants had been “priced out of existence” since the pandemic.
Related: Last orders: Bars and restaurants ‘priced out of existence’ in the last four years
Now, at the tail end of 2024, the sad trend continues.
In the period of a month Portadown has bid farewell to several independently owned and ‘quirky’ coffee stops including Lux Cafe (situated in Sitara Morgan boutique), Vintage Kit Co. coffee shop – both fledging businesses that were open but a matter of months – and McCrum’s Coffee shop and Bistro – believed to be “the only motorcycle shop in Ireland with a coffee shop.”
The town is now also preparing to lose, what has become a staple for many over its 27 years in business, The Yellow Door Cafe and Deli as owner Simon Dougan announced that the doors to his famous deli will remain closed following their last day of service on October 26.
While not all have been vocal surrounding their reasons for closure, those that have cite rising costs and “staffing issues”.
Eerily similar to the woes of those who closed before them.
In that last newsletter we highlighted the Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, Colin Neill’s call for Government intervention.
At the time he regarded a review into the taxation system for the hospitality sector as “long overdue”.
Four months on – and ironically just one week after Tourism and Hospitality Week with the tagline ‘Hospitality Matters’ – one might wonder if it’s still long overdue or if the ship has totally sailed?
It was common knowledge back in May that the hospitality sector was struggling as a whole to recruit fresh hands – the infamous chef shortage was well reported – and now it seems the sector has been almost unanimously abandoned on all fronts.
What good does it do to address costs when the chef is also the cook, cleaner and server? Perhaps a training incentive wouldn’t go amiss?
Perhaps reassuringly however, Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has recognised the loss of these businesses within her constituency as being part of a “wider issue”.
The MP has pledged to call on the UK Government and Department for the Economy in the NI Assembly to “step up and act now”.
Ms Lockhart said: “Reducing VAT and tackling the crippling business rates are vital steps to help these businesses survive. We cannot afford to lose more of the places that make our town centres the vibrant places they are.
“I will continue to push for urgent support for our local businesses, so they can thrive and continue to play a crucial role in our community.”
While a reduction in VAT would undoubtedly be welcomed by most in the business, the owners of those businesses closing and closed are telling us that the overarching problem is multifaceted; less clearcut.
There is no one, singular issue. It’s costs, taxation, staffing, footfall and – arguably what should be (or could be) underpinning it all – government support.
We are, as always, open to hearing your thoughts on this. Please feel free to drop us a message, or email, to get your thoughts across in their entirety.
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