Over 1,800 People Back Campaign To Save Popular Cafe At Foxton Locks
Written by HFM News on 29th March 2021
Over 1,800 people are backing a campaign to save a popular family-run café at Foxton Locks.
Top Lock Coffee Stop has been open for the past 15 years, but the Canal and River Trust, who own the site, won’t be renewing the lease on the premises after October, as it wants to run its own café.
An on-line petition launched last week, calling for a re-think, is gaining massive support.
Gary Hives, who runs the business with his wife and daughter, was sent a letter giving him six months’ notice of the lease being terminated.
The timing could not have been worse as he was planning to hand the business over to his daughter, Kelly Foster, who last year battled breast cancer and after being given the all-clear, was looking forward to taking on a bigger role.
Gary told Hfm he has always had a good relationship with the Trust and just wants to discuss the matter with them:
Gary Hives and Kelly Foster of Top Lock Coffee Shop.
PIC: ANDY CARPENTER
Hannah Solomons from Market Harborough, who is a friend of the family and regular customer at the cafe, launched the on-line petition, which has also received the backing of Harborough MP Neil O’Brien.
She told Hfm the reason why:
Gary Hives and Kelly Foster of Top Lock Coffee Shop with Neil O’Brien MP.
PIC: ANDY CARPENTER
A spokesman for the Canal and River Trust told Hfm: “The Trust has recently written to the operator of the Top Lock café at Foxton Locks, Mr Gary Hives, informing him of our future plans for the site.
We know that it has been a challenging time for all, including much reduced visitor numbers at Foxton and difficult trading conditions throughout the pandemic.
The lease at Foxton is due to expire at the beginning of October, now six months away, and it is a natural time to consider the future of the café and let Mr Hives know as soon as possible about any changes.
“The Trust is not proposing to take over Mr Hives’ business. Instead, we intend to invest in the café and offer something different at the site, improving the facilities and opportunity to engage more visitors regarding the importance of their local canal and how to play an active role in looking after it.
“We are sorry that this means we won’t be entering into a further lease with Mr Hives. Whilst this isn’t the outcome that he had been hoping for, we are grateful for all that he has done at Foxton and have tried to give him as much notice as possible about the decision.”
