FOLLOWING last week’s announcement that Kitchen Kapers is set to close after 30 years in Basingstoke, The Gazette caught up with the kitchen supplier's owner Gary Gordon.

“It’s been hard work for our business recently,” Gary said.

“Shopping has changed too much over the last 20 years – especially in Basingstoke where areas such as the Top of The Town have to compete with shops on the edge of town and out of town.

“These areas don’t have to pay the increased business rates like us, so inevitably shops such as ours are under even more pressure.

“We’re running harder and faster but putting less sales in the tills.”
Kitchen Kapers first moved to its Wote Street home in 1986.

Run by Gary and his wife Caroline, the company has picked up a string of accolades since opening including a BBC Good Food Cookshop of the Month Award as well as being crowned Britain’s Best Cookshop.

The kitchen appliance specialist, which also has sites in Woking, Farnham and Camberley, has built up a loyal base of customers over the years, but even this has not been enough to keep the award-winning, independent shop from closing its doors.

The Basingstoke branch will close on Saturday, May 28, which will see six employees of the firm lose their contracts.

Gary added: “Across the years, we have had some very nice, regular customers, who we hope keep in contact with us, and a very good team who we'll miss. 

“But ultimately, I think we, as a businesses, are still in a recession, retail-wise, and because of developments to the area, we have struggled.

“Top of The Town businesses don’t get the support that they should because other businesses get better rates, and with businesses rates going up each year by two per cent and the government’s £1,500 allowance from these bills vanishing from the last budget, small businesses are getting hit.”

In the week that it was announced Kitchen Kapers was to close, another business in the Top of The Town – G & E Antonellis – also confirmed it will shut.

The council’s head of borough development Chas Bradfield said the council was “committed to working with local businesses to ensure that Basingstoke town centre is a thriving retail and leisure destination”.

He said: “Whilst the council cannot control business rates, as they are set at national level, we are keen to ensure businesses pay the right amount and also benefit from any available relief. 

“The council’s town centre programme has enabled the development of the market to boost business for traders, making the area even more attractive to visitors and the council’s hour free parking initiative has also increased footfall to the area. 

“Some Top of The Town property owners have also been helped to improve the appearance of their premises through the council’s Shop Front Grants Scheme. 

“In a drive to make Basingstoke better for business, the council is working with Basingstoke Together, the area’s Business Improvement District, to support and connect local businesses, improve the visitor experience and also promote the area.”

But for Kitchen Kapers and others, it appears these changes have not been enough.

Gary added: “When you are competing with out-of-town shopping outlet spaces that offer cheap rates and free parking for businesses and customers, it puts people off from coming to the town.”