Marlborough has said farewell to Munchies, the offbeat café on the banks of the Kennet, with the arrival of Caffe Nero in the High Street blamed as “the final nail” in its demise.
Proprietor Clare Thomas, who has run the business for the past decade, originally in The Parade, acknowledges that tough economic times have been part of the problem.
“But the arrival of Caffe Nero was the final nail in the coffin,” she told Marlborough News Online. “It is pretty shocking that big companies like that can come in and open up without planning consent and get away with it.”
“They have set a precedent by starting their business and then seeking retrospective permission for change of use. I have filled in the survey that is being conducted by the town council on the effect they have had.”
Munchies certainly added a difference to Marlborough’s cuisine over the eight years it has been in Kennet Place, presenting itself under the mantle of a Tardis café and also as the place for a Breton breakfast, as well as a takeaway.
“I tried to make it something different because we are off the beaten track,” explained 45-year-old Clare. “And it did make keep us going competing with all the other cafes and eating spots in the town.”
“But we lost that difference when Caffe Nero arrived. So I’m afraid it’s a sad farewell for me from Munchies. I shall have a rest and hope than I can find another opening somewhere in the future.”
Town councillor Val Compton, who lives nearby, commented: “Munchies was wonderfully placed as a riverside café. It is such a shame it has had to close and considers that Caffe Nero is the final nail in its coffin.”
Hockey: Marlborough first team lose out just before the whistle
