A wedding shop boss forced to close after discovering her landlord was selling up says the ordeal feels like her “heart was being ripped out”.
Belinda Witton believed her Belles Brides Bridal Studio in Herne Bay was safe having assisted hundreds of women for more than a decade ahead of their special day.
But the 61-year-old, whose William Street store doubles up as Belles Stage School for dance lessons, was devastated to receive a shock note stating she needed to be out.
The dance teacher of 30 years told KentOnline she received a letter from her landlord two years ago saying she had until this year to vacate as her lease was ending.
Having tried to purchase the building from the landlord several times, Mrs Witton says her offers were never enough and subsequently faced losing both businesses.
“I spent about five months crying, I thought my heart had been ripped out – the landlord didn’t even tell me in person,” she said.
“We tried to buy the building twice.
“Our problem is that we need a multi-use building to keep both businesses, but for £25,000 a year, it won’t happen. We’ve tried everything.”
After being unable to find anywhere suitable to run the bridal shop and dance school, and being unable to get charity status, Mrs Witton decided to shut the wedding store.
“We had to make a decision one way or the other because otherwise, we would have lost both businesses – the wedding shop and the dance school,” she said.
“We only just cover our costs on the dance school side.
“We survive but we don’t have any money left over at the end of the year.
“Luckily, we have been able to find a new space for the dance school.
“I’ve been teaching dance in Herne Bay for about 30 years. Dance is so important and I think it makes the students stronger.
“Some of my students say the dance school is like their second home.
“We grow and need lots of storage space for things like costumes, props, bars and mirrors so finding a suitable space was difficult. We don’t just come into the building with a CD and go – we need so many things.
“Where we lease this building, we can come and go as we like but with (our new place), you have to be out on time.
“What if a parent is late to pick up their child? We can’t just leave them.”
Mrs Witton, who has two children and three grandchildren, believes her current building could become flats once sold.
“The building next door used to be a pub which is being turned into housing and there are flats behind us too,” she said.
After the move later this year, Belles Stage School will run from St Andrews Church in Sea Street.
The wedding shop is now being wound down with a sale on.
Mrs Witton plans on donating leftover dresses to charity when her shop closes in September.
