The owner of an Oldham cafe that is being forced shut due to the cost-of-living crisis has likened closing the business to “switching off a life support machine”.

Kirsty Petrillo has been left with no choice but to close Shelly B's Cafe, situated in the heart of Royton, next month due to spiralling costs.

Kirsty, from Royton, took over the cafe after her mum Shelly Baxter, the cafe’s original owner, died in 2020.

“This cafe was my mum’s dream and we never have been about profit, but it was her dream and I said that as long as it can maintain itself, I will keep it going and keep her dream alive but it’s just no longer feasible,” she said.

The cafe survived the Covid pandemic but has said it cannot continue to run under current cost-of-living pressures.

Kirsty said: “Since Covid we have seen stock prices go up and up week in and week out.

"Prices and the cost of energy is just continuing to rise.

“We are finishing our five year contract here in March and the landlord is looking to pretty much double the rent.

“We also have the minimum wage increase from April to consider. I cannot praise my staff enough, they are like family and worth every penny, but when it comes down to the sheer numbers and figures it’s a struggle.”

The Oldham Times: Shelly Buxton opened the cafe in Rochdale in 2007 before moving it to Royton in 2018 Shelly Buxton opened the cafe in Rochdale in 2007 before moving it to Royton in 2018 (Image: Kirsty Petrillo)

Kirsty has also noticed that customers are feeling the pinch which is showing in the drop in footfall.

“We have had to change the opening hours and our closing earlier because the precinct is getting quieter. People just don’t have that extra couple of quid to spend,” she said.

The cafe owner is also concerned for other small businesses facing similar struggles.

“All businesses, especially here in the precinct, are worried. I think every small business is frightened for April onwards. It’s all the costs and the unknown.

“I have seen more and more businesses posting on social media about closing. It’s gutting.”

She added: “There’s not enough support for small businesses. Big businesses can carry these hikes in a different way to what we can.

“There needs to be more support, but individual people need support too. If people don’t have spare money in their back pockets, there’s no money there to spend.

“We’ve already had to put the prices up, but it can’t keep getting pushed onto to the customer because they can’t afford it.

“My mum used to have motto that was ‘We don’t sell cheap food we sell quality food at a cheap price’ and if we get to the stage that we are no longer living by that motto that she instilled what we are we doing? It’s not her business anymore.”

Kirsty’s mum Shelly also carried out a range of charity work whilst running the business including Macmillan coffee mornings.

“My mum was a community person and the cafe is a community hub. We’re on first name basis with most of the customers and that’s what makes the closure really sad.

“I’ve likened it to switching off a life support machine that is how difficult it is because not only am I severing my tie with my mum and that family connection I’m severing it for everybody.

“People come in and say, ‘you’re the only face we see’ and it’s heart wrenching thinking that we won’t see them and they won’t see us and where will they go?

“We have also had customers come in and say we have met people here.

"Someone on Facebook has commented and said she met her husband at the cafe.”

Shelly B's Café is closing on March 15.