Harrogate businesses ‘trying their best to survive’ Kex Gill closure

Apr 5, 2024

Mackenzie's farm shop and café

Harrogate businesses on the A59 say they are trying to navigate income loss due to a closure at Kex Gill.

The road is the main route between Harrogate and Skipton and closed on February 2 after a crack appeared in the verge. It is set to remain closed until at least July.

North Yorkshire Council said repair work costing £750,000 will begin on April 15. Irish construction firm Sisk, which is carrying out the nearby £68.8 million three-mile realignment, has been appointed to undertake the work. Ivor King will carry out specialist steel sheet piling.

But, businesses which are based on the route say the closure has had a significant impact on trade.

Kex Gill, A59

David Suttill, owner of Mackenzies Farm Shop and Café took over the business in November last year and said trade was high through until January and “then overnight things changed due to the road closure”.

Mr Suttill told the Stray Ferret his business takings had fallen by a quarter, around 20% of food is wasted and he has even had to lay off two members of staff. He added the business used to average 150 to 250 customers a day and now they average 50 customers a week.

He said:

“Now the road is closed the café gets no passing trade which it heavily relies on. We have resorted to clearance sales and bargains just to get people through the doors.

“We are trying to find a way to survive and I know other businesses are trying their best to survive too. We are digging deep and finding a way to pay the bills but I don’t know how much longer we can survive. I just want to say there is still a clear run from Harrogate we have loads of deals come and grab a bargain.”

Mr Suttill called on the council to help local businesses. He said:

“It is disgusting it has been closed for months. I wish I could tell the council just to sort it out and get a concrete plan. We have had no communication from them at all and we’ve been offered no help or compensation. I just want an explanation and an apology it is ridiculous.

“We are trying our best to stay open and to donate wasted food with no help from them.”

Fewston farm shop and café

Another farm shop and cafe affected by the Kex Gill closure is Fewston farm shop and café. Lee Abbott, owner of the business, runs the site alongside his wife and said sales have halved since the road closure.

Mr Abbott said:

“We rely on passing trade especially in the summer and while people can still get here from Harrogate, we have lost all of our trade in the other direction.

“Now you can’t get here from Skipton. People are not going to go on almost an hours drive or pay for that fuel. We are at a dead loss.”

He added the café is seeing food waste like Mackenzies and called on the council to make change. He said:

“We have had no correspondence with the council, if we knew when it was going to be closed we could’ve planned around it but we can’t do anything. I know other businesses around us are struggling.”