Following on the back of gift shop Govier’s of Sidmouth’s announcement last month that the shop, established in 1904, would be closing its doors and taking its business online, another gift shop on Sidmouth’s high street, Coles, will be closing this Saturday (October 27). Unfair business rates and rising costs were behind the decision to shut up shop.
Coles’ owners, Colin and Kylie Cramb, told the Sidmouth Herald that they would be returning to Australia when their lease ends and said their decision was bitter sweet.
“We have loved running the shop and are going to miss Sidmouth but landlords don’t seem to realise that it’s 2018 and the rents they’re charging are more than businesses can sustain as our bottom line has risen,” Colin told the newspaper, adding that the second issue was unfair business rates. “It is totally ridiculous that rates are based on the value of the property. If the value goes up, your rates and rent goes up. It is an incestuous cycle.”
Top: Sidmouth high street.
