National Trust ‘damaging’ local business with cafe closure

NATIONAL Trust bosses have been accused of undermining local business by forcing a much-loved café to shut while planning to open one of its own.

The Brownlow Café at the Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire will be closing in the new year after the trust decided not to renew the lease.

The café has been run by Jensigne Molbeck-Blyth and her husband Ian Wood for nearly 13 years, with locals calling it one of their favourite spots.

But the charity has said it is time to make changes to the refreshment services it offers at the country park, where it is planning to open an “exciting new café proposition” in the spring.

Mrs Molbeck-Blyth, 49, and her husband accuse the trust of refusing to discuss their decision and not giving them any opportunity to appeal against it.

She said: “We’re a small business employing local people and using local suppliers and we have gone through lots of ups and downs recently with Covid, thinking we wouldn’t be able to reopen after lockdown. But now a large organisation is putting an end to us.

“I believe in organisations like the National Trust. We need them to look after our manor houses and countryside. But this is awful.”

Mr Wood, 52, added: “The National Trust is undermining a small business we’ve worked hard to build up over 13 years. Frankly, I’m furious about it and so are lots of our customers.”

Customers have vented their frustration at the trust’s decision, with more than 7,500 already signing a petition against the closure of Brownlow Café.

A spokesman for the trust said: “We [want] to reassure visitors that we will still offer refreshments, initially in the form of a temporary outlet which will be open seven days a week.”