Pritchett Butchers speak out over decision to move to Churchfields

That's the message from the family that run Pritchett Butchers, after it announced it would be leaving the city centre shop it has occupied for the past 150 years.

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. 

They blamed access issues for its deliveries and suppliers - something they warned would be a problem earlier this year. 

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 added: "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". 

The move has been in the pipeline since the summer, and the final straw came when they received an email warning them they would be prosecuted if they continued to use Queen Street for its deliveries - which has been closed to vehicles since March. 

Wiltshire Council has rejected claims that the lives of Charles, Mark and the team have 'been made difficult'. 

Councillor Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “We’re sorry to hear that Pritchett's has taken the decision to move out of the city centre to a new site after 150 years, but it’s positive news that the business is expanding into larger premises in Salisbury.

"In recent times we have changed access to Butcher Row, Fish Row and Queen Street but we do not feel this has had a material impact on the deliveries to businesses in the city centre. There are alternative loading arrangements nearby at New Canal where we have changed the loading bay to goods-only vehicles so that it now only services businesses."

Cllr Clewer added that before the change of access to Queen Street, it was already closed to motor vehicles during the day and for events in the Guildhall Square.

He said: “We wish Pritchetts every success in its new venture and hope that customers continue to support the business, both at its new site and at its market stall.”

Dan Collins, Business Manager of the Salisbury Business Improvement District, said: "Pritchetts Butchers has been an iconic Salisbury landmark for over 150 years so it’s of course disappointing that they are no longer going to be in the city centre.

"Having spoken with Charles and Mark I know this was not an easy decision for them to make, but this is a unique opportunity for them to expand their business. We would like to wish Pritchetts the best of luck in the future and thank them for being so actively involved in our initiatives over the years and for being an important part of the business community."

Pritchett also suffers from not having direct access to New Canal - something other businesses on Fish Row do benefit from. 

Overall, it is a positive move for the family. 

They are buying the unit in Churchfields, instead of renting in the city centre. There will be free parking for their customers, and the space will be roughly five times bigger than their city centre shop. 

Charles 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. 

As the usual loyal customers came in on Saturday morning, Charles and Mark were breaking the news to those that had not yet heard the news. 

They were greeted with disbelief, dropped jaws and even tears, from some. 

As the queue stretched down Fish Row, the family were assured that customers would be coming with them to Churchfields. 

A local GP, Rob Rosa, said he was moving to Poole, but would still come to Salisbury just for Pritchett. 

The team are hoping to open the new shop on December 1, and will also still run a market stall in the city centre on Tuesday and Saturday.