Crowdfunder launched for staff as The Original Pasty House goes bust

A crowdfunder has been set up to help more than 50 staff who lost their jobs when a major Tavistock employer went bust earlier this week.

The Original Pasty House staff were left reeling after being told on Wednesday night that they had all lost their jobs and the business was shutting for good in Tavistock and Plymouth with immediate effect.

Now Rhys Mortimer, who worked for the company for four years until August, has launched a GoFundMe appeal to help those who have lost their jobs.

He said: “Since the closure of the Original Pasty House, it’s all anyone can talk about at the moment. So, I've decided to try and do something to help. I've set up a GoFundMe to raise money for all the staff that have been made redundant just seven weeks before Christmas.

“There are 35,000 members in this group, so just a tiny amount per person could raise a huge amount of money to be split between the staff. These are my friends and ex-colleagues and seeing them treated like this is terrible.”

The bad news was delivered just as staff had shut shop after a busy day, when they were summoned to a video call to be told by the liquidators that they no longer had jobs.

The next day, Thursday, the shop on West Street, Tavistock was shut, with the only activity being a removals van being loaded with catering equipment.

Janna Sanders, manager of Tavistock Business Improvement District, said: “The sudden closure of such a beloved Tavistock institution has left the business community in shock. It is about more than the loss of another shop; it is a blow to the character, vitality and economic health of our high street.”

She added: “Our thoughts are also with the employees who have suddenly found themselves out of work, at a difficult time of year.

“Tavistock deserves a vibrant, thriving high street. This closure should make us all question what more we can do to support independent businesses, protect local jobs and safeguard the future of our town centre. It is a reminder that once a local business is gone, the community loses something that cannot always be replaced.”

The Tavistock premises had a major refurbishment only last winter and reopened with a new look in January this year.

“Independent businesses like The Original Pasty House help make our town special. They give Tavistock its identity, attract visitors, serve local residents and create the sense of community that makes people want to shop locally. When an established business like this one disappears, we lose more than a familiar shopfront,” added Janna.

She said the closure highlighted what an ‘incredibly challenging’ environment hospitality businesses currently face due to rising operating costs, increases in employers' National Insurance, business rates, VAT and other overheads.

“Government policies must recognise the reality facing independent businesses rather than making survival even harder. Small businesses cannot continue to absorb ever-increasing costs indefinitely,” she said.

Tavistock Town Council deputy mayor Cllr Jeff Moody said: “It is very sad news that The Pasty House in Tavistock has closed. It will be a real loss for the town and another blow to our high street.

“I send my best wishes to the owners and staff. I’m thinking of everyone affected and recognise the hard work they have put into the business. I do hope the staff are able to find new jobs locally. The loss of another business is a reminder of how important it is to support our high street and the people who keep it going. I hope the premises can be occupied again soon.”

Among staff who have lost their jobs are Jack Saunders, 26, gave up an estate agency job paying £7,000 a year more to join the Original Pasty House.

He said: “We all feel completely let down. There’s people like me who‘ve only been there a short time and others who have been there many years and devoted their lives. The managers regularly worked 12 hours. I moved to a small company to leave the corporate world and because money wasn’t important to me.”

He said all the staff understood how business works and the difficulties of the hospitality industry. But it was how they were dealt with that ‘really hurt’.

“We feel blindsided and very unfairly treated. Everyone was told by email to attend a Teams (video) meeting at 7 o’clock after finishing another busy day at 5pm. Some people missed the email which was for a meeting at 7 o’clock and no one had an inkling what was about to happen. Then we were told by some woman, presumably from the liquidation company, that the company no longer existed and basically, don’t bother turning up the next day, because there’s no job for you.

“It was blunt and to the point. This was followed up by an email from the same people repeating it and another email from the owners who thanked us for our hard work and continued loyalty, but that they were ‘sorry’ at how things had turned out.

“That ‘sorry’ really didn’t ring true. If they were really sorry, then why weren’t they more open and transparent with their staff who’d been loyal and hardworking? I really don’t believe the owners didn’t know a few weeks ago that they were in trouble.

“It’s all happened so quickly, they stripped the building the very next day we were told. I feel most sorry for people who’ve slogged hard for many years and this is the thanks they get.

“I’ve also got a mortgage to pay, but I’m lucky to have a partner to help. But for some it’s their only job. I’m now very cynical about small businesses now and wary about how safe and stable they are to work for.”

The Original Pasty House was run by Janet and Nigel Eadie for many years before they sold in 2023 to Emma Hookway, who already ran an award-winning delicatessen in Crediton.

Companies House lists The Original Pasty House as an active company, with one person listed as in charge, Alexander John Fraser of Brentor.

Donations to help the staff are welcome at this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-expasty-house-staff-following-closure-in-tavistock