A COALPIT Heath cafe that lost more than half of its customers when the bridge over the M4 closed has ceased trading.
The Viaduct Café, which is just off the Badminton Road about a mile from the bridge, closed its doors for the final time in September.
Announcing the closure in a Facebook post, café owner Grace Roddick thanked customers for supporting the café, which is overlooked by the viaduct carrying the main London to Wales railway line over the A432.
She said: “These past few years have been amazing and challenging but worth it for the amazing customers and friends we made along the way.
“This isn’t the outcome we wanted, and we have fought tooth and nail at each obstacle, but sadly we have to forfeit or die.”
Back in February, Grace spoke to the Voice about the challenges the café and her mum Debra’s deli had faced since the bridge closed in July 2023, not long after they took over the site.
She said: “I am about 70% down in takings; all me and mum can do is survive it.
“It’s gone really, really quiet – I’ve lost around 60% of customers, and there are now no walk-ins.
“I’ve had to let at least four people go.
“I used to have two people on each day and now it’s just me and my mum, and sometimes a third person Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“It is what it is; we just have to try to get through it.”
Debra (pictured above with Grace earlier this year) had opened the deli just four days before being told the bridge would shut, and had to shut up shop soon afterwards.
Compensation ruled out by government
Earlier this year Thornbury & Yate MP Claire Young called for businesses affected by the closure to receive payments similar to those made during the lockdown, but the government said National Highways compensation rules did not cover loss of earnings due to “temporary” road works.
The bridge was being used by around 16,000 vehicles a day before it closed to motor traffic, severing the A432 between Yate and Bristol.
Also affected was Kevin Brewer, owner of The Bigger Eater food van, said trade at his pitch in a lay-by next to Badminton Road had fallen 50-60% since the closure.
National Highways recently announced that the latest M4 closure to install eight giant steel beams for the new bridge had been postponed by two weeks.
It will now take place from October 24-27, the first weekend of the school half-term holidays.
National Highways says the postponement will not delay the reopening of the bridge early next year – an exact date has not yet been announced.
Bakery closure
A WINTERBOURNE bakery has announced it will close at the end of the year.
Lockdown Loaves, in Flaxpits Lane, will shut in December.
The news was announced on the bakery’s Instagram page, which cited ongoing tenancy issues the business had been facing for “the best part of two years” as the reason for closure.
Lockdown Loaves was initially set up at home by Hannah Catley during the pandemic.
It has another branch, Catleys, in Clifton.