A MUCH loved craft and gift shop is facing closure after being served notice to quit.
The Britten House Craft Gallery off Bromsgrove Road has been showcasing the talents of local artists for six years.
Created by Marie and Frank Frascina, it was the realisation of their dream to open the studio at the Britten Street centre.
Now to the astonishment of customers, artists, and the vulnerable people who attend classes there, they’ve been told to get out by the end of the first week of January by the community interest company (CIC) that runs Britten House.
“They’re supposed to be a CIC, why are they doing this to a community orientated centre like ours?” said Marie.
She and her husband represent up to 40 artists and hold regular art classes for vulnerable people.
“They originally asked me to quit by December 31 but they’ve since given us until January 8 to get out,” said Marie.
The couple have invested heavily in the building, and despite their rent being hiked by 20 per cent in January this year, put more money into the business.
They also put £4,000 into improving the reception of the building,
Volunteer Katy Thelwell-Bagshaw who had her wedding dress and jewellery made through the centre said the working there had turned her life around.
“This is my bit of heaven,” she said.
“I was lost before I came here but now I have the confidence to think I can do more with my life. If this goes I’ve got nothing.”
Another supporter is Borough Councillor Debbie Chance who also had her wedding dress created by the talents at Britten House.
She said: “This is just the sort of enterprise we want to see more of in Redditch, supporting a family business and through it local artists.”
A spokesperson for Britten House Craft Gallery CIC said: “We are not able to respond to your questions for legal reasons as the matter remains in the hands of our solicitors.”
