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Mystery over two closures
Southcliff has received a double blow with the closure of two independent firms operating on Ramshill Road and South Street, Gibsons and Francis tea rooms have both closed in recent days of each other. 120806 Picture by Dave Kettlewell. 20/02/2012
THE future of two traditional Scarborough businesses is shrouded in mystery.
T Gibson’s Butchers and adjoining delicatessen, Gibson’s at 25, in Ramshill Road, were shut yesterday, leaving customers shocked.
The Francis Tearooms, in South Street, which had a distinctive 1930s style, was also closed, with landlords confirming they had changed the locks and taken over the premises.
Traders told the Evening News that they believed the family-run Gibson empire had closed down.
The Evening News tried to contact owner Tony Gibson but did not receive a reply. The butchery arm of the Gibson’s empire was renowned for its meat, and was named Yorkshire’s most dynamic and exciting family-run business at Barclays Local Business Awards in 2009.
Not far away in South Cliff, a notice had been placed in a window in Francis Tearooms telling customers the tearooms were under refurbishment and would re-open soon.
But there was also a note in another window to Jeremy Bentley, the cafe owner, from Manchester-based solicitors acting on behalf of the landlord.
It said: “The landlord has taken peaceful possession of the property and the locks have been changed to re-secure possession thereof as a result of breaches of the lease.
“The landlord gives notice that all goods contained in the building that do not form part of the fixtures and fittings are ready for collection.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 44 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
exbutcher
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 05:26 PMwell thank you for the genuine people sad at the demise of gibsons it is a tragedy for all concerned staff and owners alike . however i do find it incredible the number of people on here that allegedly know whats going on have all the answers and even find it amusing . im not going to be drawn in to a battle of words with these people i have more important things to do such as finding a job not easy after 22 years in the same place but suffice to say the people that have brought this situation about know who they are and unlike mr and mrs gibson will always be known in this town as the people responsible for making making many peoples lives very difficult whilst ensuring they still ride around in their flash cars big houses etc . what goes around comes around karma etc.i dont wish harm on anyone but i make an exception for these uncaring im all right jack word breaking low lifes and yes you can quote me !!
justine craven
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 12:38 PMI am disgusted that everyone feels the need to comment on such a great family and their business i suggest the evening news removes ALL these comments they are unkind ,unjust and unnecessary have a little respect and keep your opinions to yourself .
tinpotgodslayer
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 12:43 AMah well ,i knew about the goings on when they actually happened but thatw as and is none of my business as its none of yours. His marriage failed some time ago and his wife will obviously be searching for her piece of what she had helped build up. But he wont want to keep it all running to line someone elses pockets the lads are doing their own stuff so wont be taking up running the business, so maybe just maybe he is selling up, settling up and starting a semi retirement richly deserved after buolding up a reputation like gibsons had, it doesnt just happen overnight.Reemember they are not public property and his former wife may not appreciate these commentst either.
sha39
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:09 PMits very sad Gibsons has gone, their pies were fantastic especially the huge christmas pork pies my parents would bring to cornwall with them for their christmas visit. Its the knock on effect too of these business's going under, my parents have lost their supplier to their shops because the have shut! The ones that are discussing their private lives make me laugh , i'm sure you'd like all your dirty washing aired on a comment , has it anything to do with you what goes on in peoples personal lives , no i think not, very quick to jump on the bandwagon and gossip I am a proud scarborian i'm always quick to tell people where i live that we yorkshire folk are a friendly bunch , i'm starting to wonder . You that are dissing Gibsons might find it more useful to go diss your council that are buying ipads out of your council tax money instead, then you can REALLY get on your soapboxes !!!! , RIP gibsons you will be sadly missed xxx
guesticulate
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 05:40 PMMaybe his missus likes black pudding?
ward10
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 04:46 PMwell i aint telling any porkies but...its gonna cost him
guesticulate
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 03:56 PM#37. Are you insinuating that he was letting ladies have his sausage for nothing?
ward10
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 03:30 PMno one got nothing to say now?...were all quick to blame others and point the finger...thats the trouble with us english...jump on the band wagon without the true facts...i got facts straight from the woman involved..i rest my case people.. next story please?
ward10
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:12 AMthe banks or english rose for that matter are not to blame for this...he has no one to blame but himself...it wont be long before the true facts come out in the divorce courts...dont know if his meat is dirty...but he is...? if my comments are untrue....do me for slander!
Goingsplodgin
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:42 PMguesticulate you should know if his meat is dirty . As you admitted last week - you eat it.
maddoc63
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 06:28 PMWe dealt with Gibsons for years and years when we were in the restaurant trade , there was no other butcher's in town comparable for quality and service. Tony and family were not "Johnny Come Lately Entrepreneurs " as some posts suggest nor were they any more expensive than supermarkets . I first met the Gibsons back in 1983 when I worked at what later became the cafe so it's very sad for me if Gibsons have been "sent down" by the bad debts of other local companies . I too have heard the rumour mill grinding with regard to English Rose and their debts and knowing all the parties involved and what cars they drive, it doesn't take a genius to work out who will come out of this smelling of the proverbial by buying another company off the shelf and who has been lead like a lamb to the slaughter in this case.
guesticulate
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 05:21 PMAre you suggesting that his meat is dirty #29. If so the cleaners is just a few doors away from Gibsons, so why did his mrs not take him there?
nocensorship
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 01:50 PM#30 you can buy meat over the internet
Wigbert
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:24 PM#29 has a good degree of insight!!!!!! I shall not say anymore..
I read the news today, oh boy
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:48 AM27 As far as I'm aware, you can't buy meat over the Internet, or from charity shops. And there's lots of free parking round Ramshill Road. What will you suggest next? The smoking ban perhaps, or the EU, that usually gets a mention whenever shop closures are discussed? It's always a shame when any shop closes down, but it happens all the time, in good times as well as bad, shops close and other shops open.
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