{"id":25293,"date":"2024-03-26T09:39:27","date_gmt":"2024-03-26T09:39:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lcnonline.co.uk\/?p=25293"},"modified":"2024-03-26T09:39:27","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T09:39:27","slug":"cafe-owners-blame-lack-of-government-support-for-closure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lcnonline.co.uk\/cafe-owners-blame-lack-of-government-support-for-closure\/","title":{"rendered":"Cafe owners blame lack of government support for closure"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The owners of a popular Co Down caf\u00e9\u00a0 have hit out at a lack of government support for the sector as they revealed it had become \u201cimpossible to survive\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Tracey and Matthew Kennedy, who have been running the Owl & Pussycat Caf\u00e9 in Hillsborough for the past eight years, said they will close for good at the end of April. The premises will be converted into offices.<\/p>\n

The gastrocaf\u00e9 at Orchard Mews served freshly made breakfast and lunch which worked to showcase local suppliers.<\/p>\n

“The end of an era,\u201d they said, posting on social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve some sad news to share with you all, Owl & Pussycat Caf\u00e9 will open its doors for the last time at the end of April.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s with a lot of different emotions that Matthew & I share this news with you.<\/p>\n

\u201cSadness – that our bustling caf\u00e9 and its incredible team of staff will no longer exist, the premises will be changing into offices.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrustration – that government don\u2019t seem interested in supporting the hospitality industry, and small businesses in general, and it has become incredibly difficult if not impossible to survive!<\/p>\n

\u201cThankfulness – for all our staff and incredible partners and suppliers that have made Owl & Pussycat the most incredible venue over the years and of course you our wonderful customers!<\/p>\n

\u201cRest – it\u2019s been a rollercoaster 8 years, we look forward to more time for each other & our wonderful kids who many of you have met working behind the counter.<\/p>\n

\u201cPossibilities – personally we look to the future with hope and excitement, much of which comes from our Christian faith which has helped us ride out some incredibly challenging times over the years!<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a life verse for me and ultimately what keeps me going through tough times such as this:<\/p>\n

\u201cFor I know the plans I have for you,\u201d declares the LORD, \u201cplans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11<\/p>\n

\u201cYour friend, Tracey.\u201d<\/p>\n

The news follows a litany of other caf\u00e9 closures in recent months.<\/p>\n

In February, another Co Down caf\u00e9 \u2013 Eighty One \u2013 announced they would also be closing their doors \u201cfor good\u201d after ten and a half years in business, saying the cost of running the caf\u00e9 has been \u201cunsustainable\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The owners of a popular Co Down caf\u00e9\u00a0 have hit out at a lack of government support for the sector as they revealed it had<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":25294,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[3840,2426,3247,297,50],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCafe owners blame lack of government support for closure - Licensed & Catering News (LCN) - News Coverage from the Local Trade<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"bingbot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/lcnonline.co.uk\/cafe-owners-blame-lack-of-government-support-for-closure\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cafe owners blame lack of government support for closure - 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