SALISBURY’S only remaining independent wine shop is closing suddenly after more than ten years – with the announcement leaving its staff shocked.

Staff at Nicolas in Butchers Row were given just two days’ notice of the closure, after rent negotiations between their head office and the landlord broke down.

Assistant manager Andrew Hurford, 45, said: “We were told yesterday morning – it was quite a shock.

“Our company pays the rent in blocks and had asked for a reduction – rent on a double shop front in the city centre is quite a lot - but this was refused, so the company pulled the plug.

“We knew the company was making some cuts, but thought as we were the only shop of this kind in Salisbury and we were making a profit, the company liked the Salisbury shop and it would be safe.

“We’ve been trading as Nicolas for the last three years, and before that as Oddbins for seven or eight years, so this has been a wine shop for over ten years.

“It’s a bit of a shock, losing jobs we both enjoy.”

On a more positive note, Andrew and manager Gareth Thomas, 33, say they are now thinking of starting a new business, once they have had time to let the news sink in.

Andrew said: “It will be a specialised wine merchant with personal service.”

The Nicolas shop will be open for the last day of trading tomorrow.