Support your town's independent businesses - says Letchworth Festival in heartfelt plea to local residents

The renowned body responsible for Letchworth's brilliant summer festival have issued a rallying cry to local residents following the closure of town centre business Khoi Khoi.

As reported by Letchworth Nub News, the Eastcheap restaurant that opened in September 2019 ceased trading due to rent arrears this week, with site owners Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, repossessing the prominent town centre site.

However, Letchworth Festival - who help stage live music events, as well as art, film, heritage, food & drink events, and much more during the town's annual summer jamboree, called for people in our town to back local independent businesses.

"Letchworth Festival are very sad to see Khoi Khoi restaurant and bar close," Festival organisers said, adding: "It was a unique place with a great mix of day time and night time food, drink and music.

"Losing a venue for live music in Letchworth is a tragedy - Herbie and co really supported our local musicians.

"It's been a really really tough time these last few years for anywhere in the restaurant and music venue trade.

"The pandemic and then this bruising cost of living crisis. Many town centre traders were given reduced rents during the 2020 lockdown - but the length of time it's taken for us to venture back out and start eating out and going out has dragged the financial crisis out for three and a half years, for restaurants and pubs.

"Which is why so many haven't survived. This will be another extremely difficult winter for many."

Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation property team work closely with tenants who fall behind on rental payments to find a solution.

They explained, as Khoi's Khoi's landlords and many other site, stores and businesses across Letchworth, the Foundation is committed to the development of local services, charitable giving, and improvements to our town. 

The body added that they reinvest 40 per cent of this commercial income into the town, funding Broadway Cinema and Theatre, Standalone Farm and a £700,000 annual grants programme. 

Spend a Fiver a Week in Letchworth's independent shops

Letchworth Festival called upon all local residents to try and spend at least £5 a week in our town's local businesses top give them a boost, and to support them during challenging times. Otherwise more stores will follow Khoi Khoi and be forced to stop trading due to a lack of revenue impacting on their ability to trade.

"What can we do?" asked Letchworth Festival plaintively.

"We can visit the places that we want to see survive.

"Little and often - go regularly, even if it's just to buy one drink or one small meal.

"Take a friend. Make it a weekly habit. Then places like Khoi Khoi will still be there. That's why we had the message in the image plastered all over during Letchworth Festival. Remember fiverfest?"

The Festival organisers added: "Don't just moan on social media about losing places after they've gone.

"Go out and be a regular customer of Letchworth's small shops, restaurants cafes and bars while they are still here.

"It's these wonderful places that make our town unique, friendly and above all a community - so why not go out and visit at least one independent Letchworth store and/or business this weekend and spend that fiver."

Letchworth Nub News is an online newspaper you can trust

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