Wrexham: Hugh John Jones Butchers on verge of closure

Hugh Jones Jones' Butchers will be a familiar name to many having been a part of Wrexham for 136 years in total.

But anyone walking past its current home on Henblas Street - where it has been based since 2010 - may have spotted a notice on the counter stating that the business will be closing down on Friday, October 28.

That is, unless a buyer can be found to take over control from fourth generation butcher Giles Jones.

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Hugh John Jones' was established and named after Giles great-grandfather in 1886, originally being based on the Butchers Market before it found its new home 12 years ago.

And the business has very much been a family-run affair ever since with his grandfather John taking over from Hugh John Jones.

Giles’ father, also named Hugh John Jones (Jr), then ran the butchers for more than 50 years.

Giles then took over the butchers in 1986 and has been running it ever since with his sons Rupert and Harvey having also been involved in the business previously.

PIC: Giles Jones will be a familiar face to many in Wrexham.

But now, like many other traditional town centre businesses it faces the very real prospect of pulling down the rollers for good.

A closing date of Friday, October 28 has been set for Hugh John Jones' Butchers - unless a buyer can be found.

Giles says that he has already had people interested in buying the business, but no talks have led to a sale as yet.

He admits that while the closing of the business will be 'emotional', he is also - after over 30 years of running the butchers - 'ready for the next challenge' in his life.

Talking about the decision to close the doors, he said: "I would say there has been ripple effects from Covid, because people's shopping habits have changed.

"We have slightly reduced hours too - it always used to be half-past five on Saturday's especially, now it's three o'clock. We find that it's gone quiet in the afternoon and we finish at four o'clock now in the week instead of five o'clock.

"But, the main thing is that I want a change and I have been doing something else as well which I'm looking forward to.

"There have been a couple of other reasons as well. The guy who was working for me part-time passed away about six weeks ago, Peter, and he was running the shop at the start of the week with my son and he loved it.

"He loved the job, but unfortunately he passed away suddenly. If Peter was still around, I'd probably not be closing at the moment as he really was some help.

"But coupled with how I feel anyway, that was the last straw really. I want to move on, it's going to be sad and it hasn't really sank in yet.

"The customers are sad as well, they're saying it's going to be a massive loss to Wrexham.

"I would like to thank my customers past and present for their continued loyalty. They are more like friends to be honest, we're all on first-name terms so yeah it's going to be very sad."

Giles says he hopes a sale can be made and that the butchers can continue to run from the same shop - even if that does mean a change of name.