I love it here but it's like a ghost town

Cafe boss tells JAMES HOLT of his concerns as hospitality businesses close in West Didsbury

- JAMES HOLT

SOMETIMES, I don't sleep at night, Victor Calo admits as he clutches on to a cup of coffee.

The general manager of Mercado, on Burton Road, he explains how the once bustling café and deli has seen its footfall plummet - with no sign of when things could pick up.

With its picturesque leafy streets and colourful variety of shops, restaurants and bars, West Didsbury is undoubtedly one of the most desirable places to live in Greater Manchester; boasting quirky breakfast spots, cosy daytime eateries and late-night drinking haunts.

But in just a number of weeks, venues along Burton Road and nearby have slowly started to vanish from the high street. Vegetarian restaurant Greens was forced to close after 33 years of trading, and the owners of a quirky deli hung up their aprons for the last time just days later. And now, a popular café and bar has seemingly shut its doors.

And for the businesses who've stayed afloat, they are acutely aware of the battle that lies ahead. VAT rates, the skyrocketing prices of produce and the cost of living crisis gripping the nation is proving an uphill struggle, with no end in sight.

'If I chill, that door doesn't open and my staff don't earn a living'

"Just today it has been incredibly difficult, and it could be even harder tomorrow," Victor tells the M.E.N. It is a Tuesday afternoon and Burton Road is mostly deserted.

There are just a few cafes open for trade, including Mercado, an independent deli specialising in authentic Latin American and European produce 'but we have to keep going, he adds. "People are trying to save money - last year was difficult but it's getting worse. I love Didsbury, I love the culture and the neighbourhood, but look around... it's like a ghost town."