The sudden closure of JC Rook and Sons shops across Kent yesterday was met with a keen sense of sadness.

For many, the butchery firm has been a mainstay throughout their lives; a regular and reassuring fixture on the high street.

But the chain was plunged into administration, putting 155 staff its 11 branches and factory in the county out of work.

Now adminstrators tasked with sorting out its business affairs say poor trading during the pandemic is to blame for the company's downfall.

The firm, Interpath Advisory has issued a statement saying; "The company suffered trading losses in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, primarily due to constraints from lockdown closures which were then exacerbated further through the Omicron variant in late 2021 during what would be their peak season in the run up to Christmas.

"The directors concluded that with the deteriorating trading position, the company would need to go through an insolvency process.

"Following legal advice, the directors made the decision to close all 11 stores before the appointment of the joint administrators. Operations at the production facility in Ramsgate also ceased.

"Regrettably, with trade ceasing, the majority of the company’s 155 employees have been made redundant, with the joint administrators retaining a small number of staff to assist them with the administration process."

One customer summed up how many were feeling about the closures, saying: “I’m genuinely devastated and so will the kids be. We have a Kentish pasty most Saturdays, and I probably have done for the last 34 years.”

But what went wrong for Rooks, and are other independent high street butchers next on the chopping board?

Scott Taylor, of Taylor Meats, runs shops in Herne Bay and Ramsgate.

He says the industry faces a number of challenges, including a shift in shopping habits and a struggle to draw in younger generations.

"The bottom line is that people's lifestyles have changed so much, and quite a few butchers have gone as a result,” he explains.

"We're doing OK and aren't going anywhere, but it's becoming harder and harder in many aspects, with supermarkets getting stronger and using meat as a draw, like they did alcohol.

"One of the newer challenges is the change in our future customers, and the youth coming through, whose lifestyles are so different.

"In the past, they might have carried on the tradition of how [their families] shop and eat but that's changing now.”

JC Rook and Sons was founded by Joseph Rook in 1965, with his first shop opening in Dover, followed by many other branches across Kent.

At the weekend it had customers through its doors at shops in Broadstairs, Deal, Dover, Folkestone, Gillingham, Herne Bay, Hythe, Maidstone, Southfleet, Ramsgate and Sittingbourne.

But yesterday morning none of them opened.

Dean Spinks, the manager at the Broadstairs branch, said: “It's a sad day. JC Rook & Sons went into administration last night. I got a phone call at 8pm saying we cannot open today or in the future.

"I am absolutely heartbroken at this time in writing this, not just for myself but my fantastic team I had working for me, and also for the town of Broadstairs.”

That feeling of heartbreak resonated across the county, with many recalling the part Rooks has played in their lives.

Steph Buckworth wrote: “When we went on holiday to Broadstairs we always used to pop up to Rooks for lunch and take it back on the beach to eat.

"Many a time dad would say ‘shall we have that again’ and I would go back up to buy the same. Happy days."

But Mr Taylor says customers through the doors is the only way to keep shops like his alive.

“I don't know exactly what's gone on at Rooks, but it doesn't surprise me because I think the writing was on the wall years ago, as I know the struggles they've had," he said.

“I've always felt that I'm glad I haven't got that number of shops because running two is enough of a challenge.

“I feel I've lost a bit of fellowship on the high street.

"Our customers need to keep coming if shops like ours are to survive."

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) says the number of independent butchers in the UK has fallen by 60% over the last 25 years, due in large part to the rise of supermarket chains.

Little is known yet of the details behind Rooks’ fall into administration, but anecdotally a number of branches are said to have been performing well - adding to the sense of surprise.

Mr Spinks said of the Broadstairs shop: “In the nearly five years I have been back at the shop, we as a team have turned it around and moved it forward."

A 2019 article for commercial property agent Christie and Co reveals Rooks had marketed four unspecified branches for sale as going concerns to “test the market appetite”.

The directors at the time, Andrew Rook and Allison Herkes, said: “All of our stores are currently trading well, and we have seen a significant uptake in sales over recent months.”

Accounts published in September 2020 also noted: "It is not yet known the full extent to which we have been affected by Covid-19.

"[But] since the end of lockdown, the food services element of the business has returned to and actually exceeded pre-Covid levels of activity."

Companies House records show that Mr Rook resigned as the last family director of the company in December 2021, followed by Mrs Herkes the month after.

Adrian Burr was appointed director and a “person of significant control” on January 4.

The only other active director listed is James Murray, who was appointed in January 2020.

Peter Rook, the son of the firm's founder, learned of the news late on Sunday.

The 86-year-old, who worked for the business all his working life until he retired 23 years ago, said: "I started in the shops and then I was in charge of our Ramsgate factory producing all the pies and sausages."

"I was deeply saddened to hear about J.C Rook and Sons going into administration.

"We were only notified of the news ourselves at 8pm on Sunday.

"We would like to say a huge thank you to all our wonderful and loyal customers, as well as our dedicated staff for supporting us throughout the years.

"Our hearts go out to all the staff who have been impacted by this. What a sad day.”

The company’s headquarters is based in Cecilia Road, Ramsgate, but no one has yet been available for comment.

In neighbouring Broadstairs, where the firm has operated for almost four decades, the loss of the town branch will be keenly felt.

Darren Legge, who works at Pork & Co opposite, said: “It's been there since my days at Thanet College nearly 40 years ago.

"I'm sure everyone in Broadstairs is gutted, the same as in all the other towns where they've shut.

"They were our main supplier of pork and we had a really good rapport with them.

"It must be awful for the staff to find they haven't got a job any more.

"But it will also leave a huge hole on the High Street because it has such a prominent position.”