Pritchetts Butchers to leave Salisbury city centre
The family business is leaving the premises it's occupied for 150 years
Last updated 7th Nov 2022
Beloved Salisbury butchers, Pritchetts, have decided to leave their property in Salisbury city centre.The popular business has been in their Fish Row building for 150 years - and will relocate to a site on Churchfields
Father and son duo, Mark and Charles Aldridge, took to Facebook to confirm the news to their 5400 followers:
"It's a huge decision. It affects you, it affects us, but for the future of the business, we feel this is the best way we can move on."
They've said:
"It was a very tough decision, but recent access issues have made our life difficult and has made us look at our current situation, and an opportunity has arisen to take our business and improve our service and give our customers easy access and free parking.
"Where we are here Fish Row is lovely, it is where we have always been. It's our image. It's a beautiful building, but we felt we got to a point where we could not get any bigger, we are struggling for space, and of course, there are the access issues, which has made us look elsewhere."
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio Salisbury, Charlie revealed the heartbreak of saying goodbye to the building which the team hold so dear to their hearts.
Charlie said:
"The sentimental side of our business is huge. Lots of our customers have been shopping with us for years. Their Mums shop with us, or their Nans shop with us or their Dad or Grandad. They worked here when they were younger. It holds so many memories for so many people, us included.
"Dad's had the shop for 25-odd years, he's been through all sorts, BSE Crisis, Covid, the good times, winning business of the year and many sausage awards. We've made lots of good friendships with customers over the years. All those things, it's all memories that this lovely place has given us. I grew up in this shop, and now my children are coming in here and visiting me."
Despite the change, the pair will do whatever it takes to recreate the atmosphere of their Fish Row Property.
Charlie stressed: "Nothing will change. Same staff, same products, same service, we just need that access. We have also listened to customers about parking costs, and we want to offer that free parking."
Sticking to its roots, the business will continue to run its market stall on Tuesdays and Saturdays:
"We still want to be in the centre, offering our services to anyone that wants to use them.
"We hope you come over and see us and support us. We are there for you, and we want to carry on serving you. We are moving hopefully on the first of December."
Charlie is extremely excited for what the future holds.
He intends to add solar panels to help with the cost of energy crisis. In addition, he's looking to steer the business down the farm shop route with the addition of cheese and fish.
However, he hopes other shops won't follow Pritchetts out of the city centre:
"I know of three of four other businesses that, since our announcement, have actually come forward and said they're actually considering it. I can't say who, because those are private conversations. But yes, it's sad. I hope we haven't set off a trend by doing this. But I can see why other businesses would consider it."