Reality bites as traders suffer in Tory heartland
FOR more than 70 years, the Old Sweet Shop has stood on the Market Place in the Yorkshire Dales market town of Hawes.
Its wooden shelves are a testament to some of the favourite treats throughout the decades, from sherbert fountains and nougat to Parma Violets and Refreshers. But the past 13 months have brought challenges which its owner, Kevin Tasker, could never have imagined.
Since the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in York on January 31, last year, millions of businesses nationally have been thrown into turmoil amid repeated lockdowns and dwindling trade.
Mr Tasker said: “It has been a challenge, but we have survived. We are one of the lucky ones, as we have been able to carry on operating.
“We do have some great customers locally, but Hawes relies on tourism so much and a lot of trade usually comes from the visitors to the town.
“Without them, we have had to keep things ticking along as best as we can.”
Hawes, the capital of Upper Wensleydale, was first recorded as a market place more than 700 years ago in 1307. Its traditions run deep and it is a Tory heartland, sitting within the Richmond constituency of Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Ahead of Mr Sunak’s much-anticipated Budget on Wednesday, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic have become a part of life for the deeply rural community of Hawes.
The Cockett family has run a butcher’s and bakery store for five generations since the business was established in 1854. Dan Cockett and his sister, Louise, now run the bakery side of the business, while his brother, David, oversees the butcher’s.
Deemed an essential retailer, the shop has been open during the pandemic, although the effects of the crisis are continuing to affect the business.
The decision was taken in January to furlough three of the 10 staff at what is traditionally
among the quietest times of the year.
Dan Cockett, 42, who is married to Amy and has two children, Eva, five, and threeyear-old Jack, said: “We have survived, but coronavirus has had a huge impact on businesses here in Hawes.
“A lot of them are independent businesses, and people’s shopping habits have changed. We do have loyal customers, but every day you will see a supermarket van coming in to make another online delivery.”
His wife has also faced a challenging time, after launching a new veterinary practice, Wensleydale Vets in Leyburn, last March, just before the first lockdown was imposed.
But Mr Cockett maintained the renowned stoicism of Yorkshire’s rural communities will help ensure the region’s economy claws itself free of the grip of coronavirus.
He said: “There is such a strong community spirit here in Hawes, and people have always looked out for each other. But what has happened in the past year has accentuated that, and that will be invaluable to help us all recover from the effects of coronavirus.”
The most famous business in Hawes is the Wensleydale Creamery, which usually welcomes 350,000 visitors each year.
But the visitor centre, restaurant and gift shop, which
account for about 10 per cent of the creamery’s income, have all had to remain closed during the lockdowns. The turnover for the business last year was £35m, but more than a quarter of the creamery’s 220 staff have had to be furloughed to some extent owing to the impact of Covid-19.
The creamery experienced a coronavirus outbreak in July last year and its managing director,
David Hartley, who had been diagnosed with cancer, died at the age of 58 in December.
But cheese production has continued, providing an invaluable source of income to the 41 farms which supply the creamery from within a 20-mile radius.
Marketing manager Sandra Bell said: “The closure of the visitor centre has had a huge impact, but we have learnt to adapt. Online sales have grown massively, and we have managed to redeploy some staff to help out with that side of the business.
“It has given us the chance to take stock and look at where the business can grow in the future. Hopefully we will emerge from all of this in a stronger position.”
We are one of the lucky ones, as we have been able to carry on operating. Old Sweet Shop owner Kevin Tasker.