A BASINGSTOKE businessman said he has no other choice but to close his craft beer shop for good because of rising costs.

Mat Bedford, who has been running Twisted Crow Beer & Bottle Shop on Mortimer Lane for the past 18 months, announced that he is closing his shop on Saturday, January 21.

The off-licence store had been stocking more than 200 craft beer, with approximately a quarter of them sourced from breweries within 30 miles of Basingstoke, but Mat said his business is “just not making the money that it needs to”.

Speaking to Gazette after announcing the closure, Mat said: “I think it's a double whammy of rising costs and unfortunately the way the economy is at the moment, consumers just haven't got that disposable income.

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“It's a blow. But at the end of the day, same as anyone else, I've got a mortgage to pay. I've got bills, got kids that need to be fed. So I've got to do whatever's right for me and my family and make sure that the bills are paid.

“It is very disappointing. On the day I put the announcement on Facebook, it hit me like a tonne of bricks. But at the end of the day, I've just got to make sure that my family are taken care of and the money's coming in to pay our mortgage bills.”

Mat wrote on Facebook that it was a post that he hoped he would never have to write.

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He added: “Current economic pressures mean we can no longer make the business work. We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of our customers and suppliers over the last 18 months, it's been an absolute pleasure getting to know you and sharing some great beers with you.

“The business will be winding up over the next couple of weeks with our last planned date for trading being Saturday, January 21 subject to stock levels.”

Mat, who is a chef by trade, is now planning to return to that career.

“Prior to opening the shop, I was a chef. So I’m probably looking at going back into kitchens.”