Ian and Victoria Byatt have announced they will retire in September, closing the Moorhouse Farm Shop and Coffee Shop near Morpeth after 23 years. The decision, which they described as difficult, means the business they built from scratch will shut down.
The couple said they had been considering the move for several months before taking to Facebook on Wednesday to confirm the closure. The farm shop will cease trading on Saturday, September 5, while their final appearance at Morpeth Farmers' Market will be on August 1.
A difficult decision after 23 years
In a heartfelt statement, the Byatts said: "After much thought and consideration over the last few months, we’ve made the decision to retire and close the Farm Shop, Coffee Shop and Farmers Market side of our business. Having built the business from scratch over the last 23 years, you will understand this has been a difficult decision to make but equally we are excited to see what comes next when we have a little more time available. We will remain involved in the farming side of things so there will still be plenty to keep us busy."
Tribute to customers and staff
The owners expressed gratitude to their loyal customers and staff. They added: "We couldn’t have succeeded without all of you, our customers, and we sincerely thank you all for your loyalty to us and for choosing locally sourced food over the years. Many of you have become friends as well as customers and we will miss all of the great chat over the counter and at the Farmers Market."
They also acknowledged the team at Moorhouse Farm, "many of whom have been with us for a long time. All of our staff, both past and present, have been key to maintaining the quality of produce and warmth of customer service you have come to know us for."
News of the closure prompted an outpouring of support from locals and customers further afield, who described the shop as a popular stop for weekend trips.
