THE OWNER of Hexham Fish Bar has given a teary farewell to loyal customers as the restaurant will be handed over next Wednesday.

Antigoni Anastasiou moved with family from Solihull, near Birmingham, to Hexham in 2004 to take over the business and has been part of the community for 17 years.

Antigoni said: "Saying goodbye to customers I’ve known so long has been really hard and emotional.

"We've opened the takeaway but I haven’t seen my restaurant customers.  COVID has just changed everything and the past two years have been really hard.

"The last 17 years have gone so fast and I’m not going to have this shop or the friends I’ve gained over the years."

The restaurant went on the market eight years ago when business didn't pick up again after the recession.  However, when the new bus station opened just two minutes away their business took a turn.

They no longer wanted to sell but the business remained on the market as they'd had little interest.  When a buyer appeared in April of this year, however, they decided it was time to move on.

It wasn't an easy decision.

"In 2004, we came to try the shop from Solihull, I’d never been to Hexham before.

"We love it here, Hexham is probably the best place that I’ve been to in this country.

"It's so friendly here, the people are so welcoming and laid back, everybody knows each other, it's safe, there’s such a warmth of being in this town."

There are times and friends that Antigoni will remember very dearly.

"My husband didn't speak English as well when we first moved here.  A customer once said to him 'do you know where I can go spend a penny?' He asked if they wanted to go to the pound shop!"

They have served thousands of customers over the years and will miss the most loyal dearly.

"I have special bonds with customers that came every week without fail.  When you talk to someone every week and they ask what you’ve been up to they know a lot about your life.

"One man came from the start but got sick a few weeks ago.  I wont get to say goodbye to him and that really hurts but I will facetime him when he’s well again.

"I really want to find a way to keep in touch with everyone who I've known."

How about the next phase?

"It hasn’t sunk in yet.  Sometimes when I’m doing things or talking to customers I get quite emotional.  My kids have grown up and I’ve spent all my time in the shop, 6 days a week.

"I don't know what's next but I won't necessarily leave the North East."

Antigoni wants everyone to keep in touch via email at: nals007@aol.com.

"I want to thank everybody for supporting me all these years.  Without them we wouldn’t have ben able to carry on all this time, it’s been a pleasure, no, a blessing, knowing everybody that we’ve met.  I hope I can keep in touch with everybody and see everybody, I’m going to miss everything about this.

"My biggest worry is losing all the friends I’ve made over the years."