'˜Difficult decision' to close Portsmouth butcher's shop after 54 years

Butchers Kevin King, centre, his father, Malcolm, right, and James Smith are pictured outside the shop. Picture: Chris Moorhouse

MS King and Son in Milton Village will close on September 15Â after owner Kevin King, 54, took the '˜difficult decision'.Â

'˜I haveÂ a jobÂ opportunityÂ which isÂ just too good to turn down. It was a really hard decision but it will enable me to have more time with my family which is a massive factor,' explained Kevin.

Kevin has worked inÂ the butchers since he was five, initially starting as a '˜Saturday boy' under the supervision of his father, Malcolm.

'˜I bought the business in 1964 and I know there has been a local butchers on this site since around 1930,' said Malcolm.Â

Believed to be one of the oldest butchers in the area the shop has served the communityÂ for almost 90 years.

'˜Local shops such as this are at the heart of our community. WÂ e pride ourselves on providing a personal service. Our customers are not just a number they are also our friends. A big part of my day is the conversation I have with people,' explained Kevin.

Regular customersÂ Sian Williams and Alan CuncliffeÂ believe the closure of the shop will be a '˜massive loss to the community'.

'˜I wasÂ '˜gutted' when I heard the butchers were closing. Local shops are a big part of people'Â s everyday lives. For some people the interactionÂ they have with Kevin and fellow shoppers may be the only people they speak to that day. That will be sorely missed,' explained Sian.

Malcolm and Kevin believe the closure of the butchers is part of a trend due toÂ increased competition.

Malcolm said: '˜There used to be 22 shops in the village including three butchers and a chip shop andÂ nÂ ow there are only four. It all really started 15 years ago when the post office closed asÂ this was at the hub of the community.'

'˜It is a lot harder now than when I started as there is far greater competition from supermarkets and online retailers,' added Kevin.

Alan Cuncliffe is concerned about the impact this is having on local retailers. '˜Eventually it is going to end up whereÂ you only go to supermarkets which is really sad,'Â explained Alan.

Kevin and Malcolm plÂ an to host drinks at the shop to say goodbye to their '˜massively loyal customers'. '˜I would just like to thank everyone for their support,' saidÂ Kevin.