Hollands Craft Bakery closes down

A family-run bakery in the heart of Walsall has closed down - leaving 19 people out of a job.

Historic Hollands Craft Bakery in John Street has been forced to close due to rent arrears.

Bosses Howard and Gwen Smith, who are both in their 70s, today said they had now lost their life savings of more than £130,000 and were heartbroken to let their workers go so near to Christmas.

Hollands, which was established 105 years ago, is the second long-standing bakery in Walsall to shut in recent weeks following the collapse of Fletchers Foods Ltd in Stafford Street, which folded after 70 years due to money troubles.

Hollands has been closed since Friday after bailiffs moved in and placed a legal notice in the window saying Mr and Mrs Smith owed rent. Grandfather-of-five Mr Smith, aged 75 of Chester Road, Brownhills, today said the landlord had asked for £40,000 in rent.

Mr Smith said: "There has been a very complicated dispute over rent and we will never open again.

"It is very upsetting for me and the wife, we put our life savings and our hearts and souls into that business.

"We have had to put 19 people on the dole just before Christmas. We are heartbroken."

Hollands was based in a former chapel and also operated a popular sandwich shop. The landlord of the building is Brian Lowndes Print Ltd.

Mr Lowndes said today: "There is no dispute over rent. It hasn't been paid for 12 months. We have given them plenty of opportunity to pay and have been very patient. If they had paid, they would still be open."

Mr and Mrs Smith, who have their first great-grandchild on the way, took on the business six years ago from Mr Smith's lifelong friends Frank and John Holland.

Mr Smith said: "We gave up our retirement in Spain to take on the business after Alan died of cancer. He was my childhood friend and I wanted to carry on the business he had worked so hard on all of his life."