Mystery surrounds future of Trowbridge's last butchers

Award-winning Paul McKinley, of Castle Place Butchers, said last Friday he planned to close his shop in the shopping centre the following day on April 20.

He said he could no longer obtain meat from his supplier after getting into debt and blamed the low footfall in Castle Place for the drop in trade.

The store remained closed on Monday, but speaking to the Times on Sunday, Mr McKinley said there could be a possibility that he returns soon.

“I am closing upstairs but I have still my options out in the town and also downstairs. I cannot survive up here. It’s the cost," he said.

The empty chiller units are turned off and there’s no one in the shop. Image: Trevor Porter 76996-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

“Last week when we had the meeting with owner Tahir Ali, he did offer to help me financially, which is good, but I don’t want to take money off him.

“He said to me about going back downstairs in my old unit as my costs would be less than half than what they are up here. That’s an option for me to think about.”

Mr McKinley, 63, added: “I want to see actions. I want to see things being done. If I don’t see things being done then obviously I am not taking the money.

“I am owed £16,000 from the electricity company but I won’t get that paid back to me for another eight months. It is too long, I can’t wait for that long.

“I see things are starting to move but very very slowly. I just think to myself, I cannot operate in this situation up here like it is with no shops around me.

“Tahir spoke to me last night and said he would give me back my old unit downstairs where I was making money. I know there’s not the footfall down there but there are still a few traders.

Award-winning Paul McKinley said last week he was closing his Castle Place Butchers shop on Saturday. Today, it remains closed. Image: Trevor Porter 76944-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

“He has promised me that things are starting but it is going to be very slowly which I understand but I would like to see something moving.

“When Wilko’s shut down all we’ve heard from different landlords is that things were going to be moving but well, we’ve lost a lot of money up here and it’s depressing for me all the time.

“Either I chuck it in and I go, or I go out in the town. I have tried to go out in the town for the last three to four weeks.

“But the rents are still high out there. I am in the meat trade and meat has got very expensive in the last two years.

“I said to Tahir, at the moment I am paying high bills upstairs and I can’t do it.

“He wants me to give it a go. I am going to stay but I won’t be upstairs. I am going to try it downstairs.”