Pritchetts Butchers, Fish Row, leaving Salisbury city centre

In an update shared on its Facebook by father and son team Mark and Charles Aldridge, it was announced that the business will be moving to a purpose-built unit on Churchfields Industrial Estate. 

Charlie said: "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." 

Mark 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". 

Pritchett Butchers on Christmas Eve. Picture by Spencer Mulholland (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

Queen Street, off Fish Row, was recently closed to all vehicles. 

Charlie added: "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 as made us look elsewhere." 

The team reiterated how difficult the decision has been for them, and said the biggest issue has been the access for its deliveries and suppliers. 

Charlie said: "It is sentimental. there is so much nostalgia here, it is who we are and what we have been, but we have got to move on, and we think this is the best way. 

Mark added: "We want to say thank you to the Pritchett family, who have been so good to us. We have been here over 20 years and we've never had any issues. They have been really really good."

The new unit will be behind the Audi/Volkswagen Garage, it will have free parking, and is a lot bigger than the current space. 

The team hope to recreate its Fish Row premises as much as it can in the new unit. 

Charles and Mark Aldridge

"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."

The team will also still run a market stall in the city centre on Tuesday and Saturday.  

They said: "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." 

They had hoped to have already moved, but it has been delayed "for various reasons". 

Wiltshire Council, Salisbury City Council and the Salisbury BID have all been contacted for a comment.