Hairy Fig Cafe in York Closes After Lease Seizure by Landlords

The Hairy Fig in York closed down. The landlords, Merchant Adventurers, took action. A letter is posted on the cafe’s windows stating no one can enter the property legally. The letter is addressed to Kerry Brooks, who owns The Hairy Fig.

Kerry stated the business struggled recently due to the rising costs in the city, making running the small business tough. She had planned to sell the business, but this action happened before her sale. She asks for support during this time and thanked her team and customers.

Jim Richardson, who runs the Merchant Adventurers, said this action was serious, emphasizing their aim to be fair landlords. They depend on rental income, and as a charity, they need to be business minded too, and cannot ignore unpaid rent.

Jim stated that they want businesses to thrive. They tried to solve the issue in July but had no communication with the owner after that. Consequently, they had to take legal action, and they will also recover the debt.

The rent was unpaid for ten months. The Merchant Adventurers receive no public funding; they rely on income from their properties. These include their cafe and museum, and they own seven Fossgate properties.

The Hairy Fig started in 2008 as a traditional deli-grocer serving hams and healthy food. It’s located near the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall. The business had several owners prior and last closed in 2023 for a refurbishment.