The Fordingbridge Farm Shop and Café has closed unexpectedly and suddenly less than half a year after opening under new owners.

A picture of the notice posted on the shop’s door announcing the closure was shared on the 'I love Fordingbridge' Facebook page on Wednesday, October 25.

The notice read: “It is with the deepest regret I must inform you that the Farm Shop will permanently close from today, Tuesday 24th October. We are devistated [sic] to be taking this action and would like to wholeheartedly thank all of our customers for their amazing support.

“Thank you”.

The closure was not officially announced on social media until Thursday, October 26, when the shop’s Facebook page released a post reading simply “Goodbye…”

No reason was given for the sudden permanent closure and attempts by the Journal to contact the owners have been unsuccessful.

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Before the mysterious closure, the shop had advertised via its Facebook page that it would be hosting a Halloween Family Fun Day on Saturday, October 28.

Four days before the closure on Tuesday, 24 October, it also advertised its weekly Baby and Toddler Morning on Tuesdays, which would take place from 9am to 11am and costed £5. It is unclear whether the event on Tuesday, October 24 took place or refunds were provided.

The business was also planning to hold a Festive Flea Market on Saturday, December 2 and its butchery had opened its Christmas order book on Thursday, October 5.

Michelle Smith of DR Smith Properties, which owns the site, returned to the building shortly after the closure. She said interest in the business remained high and she was having to turn potential customers of the farm shop away.

Michelle said: “As we’ve had to go in and close the doors, we’ve had a lot of otherwise happy customers wanting to come in, so obviously the footfall and the people are there that want it.”

Neil and Corinna opened the Fordingbridge Farm Shop and Café on Wednesday, May 10 of this year. It included a shop, butchery, deli, grocery store, café, bar and courtyard.