Granary's last order
Famous for its fish dishes in the heart of a 200-year-old mill, co-owner Merryck Swallow is devastated to have to take the decision, but having pumped money in for several months to keep it going he has been left with no choice.
Six jobs have been lost, but it is hoped a new team could be found to take on the eatery that has woven itself into the town’s tapestry over the past 30 years.
Mr Swallow, who together with Richard Turner is part of the John Turner Butcher, Baker and Sandwich maker organisation that also includes Lucarly’s, is hoping the restaurant will appeal to a husband and wife team who he feels could make it work, by the nature of the arrangement cutting the wage bill and taking advantage of nearly £50,000 of investment it has enjoyed over the past three years.
He said: “We have seen a massive recession. Our tenure would be three years in April, and we saw great opportunities at the time, with the possibility of major retail names coming around us, and the potential for a casino upstairs. Everything was just positive, positive, positive for the area. The recession hit and one by one the cards fell down.
“The first thing that gets hit when people’s pockets suffer is a high class restaurant.”
The Granary has been a regular feature in the Which Good Food Guide, with recommendations from the Lincolnshire Taste of Excellence and UKTV’s Local Food Heroes.
The loss underlines the fact that although the recession has been declared over, money remains tight and people remain incredibly cautious.
Mr Swallow said: “We both feel there is a good, decent living to be had there. A couple could run it well, like Ron and Mary used to, but not as a management operation. Whoever comes along has a restaurant ready to go.
“It is very, very sad decision, we did not go into this lightheartedly, and it is my favourite restaurant.”
When it was first taken on from Ron and Mary Houghton, Mr Swallow said takings were up, but then the economy slid. A seven year lease remains from Haven Conservation Society.
Other businesses are not affected, and Mr Swallow said Lucarly’s remained strong.
“We have had to close it and concentrate on our other interests. I still think there is a good niche market for a fish restaurant, and I am sure that it could be good again,” said Mr Swallow. “We are very, very sad about it, but business is business unfortunately. We have helped it along for a long time, hoping it would recover, it hasn’t and enough has got to be enough. We’ve had to sit the bank manager down and say we ay have failed on this one.”
Expressions of interest will be handled by Mr Swallow, who can be reached on (01472) 812264.
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