A FAMILY business which has traded on Barnsley Market for 50 years will close after all stock has been sold.
White Rose Home Brew and Cake Decorations was started by Joyce Sampson, but has been run by her son Keith for the last 35 years.
Joyce, 84, said she would miss market life, but said the family could no longer make the business work financially.
She said: “Fifty years we’ve been on that market, but we’re having to sell up and come out because we can’t cope any longer.
“They closed the market hall and we moved next door to underneath the car park, which is where my son is now. But they are going to pull it down.
“How many people are going to come when they pull it down? People just aren’t coming into town. Yet they say Barnsley is one of the best markets in the country.
“It’s a real shame because we’re the only one that sells home brewing kits, and people keep saying ‘what are we going to do?’
“We’ll stay on Barnsley market while ever we have stock, but once the stock is gone, it’s gone. We won’t be buying any more.
“The market was good when we first started. It was me who started it, and I started it as a hobby because you couldn’t buy home brewing things in Barnsley at that time.
“We’ve had some good times. But since the market has been changed, does it encourage anyone to come into Barnsley?”
“I will miss the market, it has been my life and it has kept us going up to being 84 and my husband Keith is 88.
“Without it, I don’t know what we will do, but we can’t keep losing money.”
Coun Roy Miller said: “We’re supporting all businesses with their future plans during this period of transition and we really encourage shoppers to keep visiting the markets which are at the heart of Barnsley’s unique independent shopping experience.
“We recognise that while most traders will be staying here in Barnsley, some may choose to relocate or retire before the closure of the temporary markets in October.
“It’s sad to see businesses leave especially when they have been here for many years, but this is a personal decision for the traders and we wish them well.”
