Owners of a popular Edinburgh cafe have announced they have failed to secure a new venue due 'rising food and energy costs, staff shortages'.
Roots, an independent cafe and catering kitchen in the west end, confirmed they can no longer run their business as costs rise.
Taking to Facebook, they told their thousands of followers they have not been able to find a new venue and will only be able to run deliveries.
READ NEXT- Northern Lights 'likely' again tonight in Edinburgh after most magical display in years
Nine months ago, they closed their shop on William Street in the hope they would find a new home to serve Edinburgh locals. However the owners have said they are 'gutted' that they haven't been able to secure a new shop and that it 'wouldn't sit right' if they asked for donations.
The cafe stresses on the 'unimaginable' pressure that is on the hospitality industry due to 'rising food and energy costs, staff shortages, reduced footfall due to hybrid working, reduced spend due to the cost-of-living crisis, and total burn-out after the hardest few years possible'.
Roots is known for using fresh and local produce to create heartwarming soups, salads and Buddha bowls amongst other dishes.
While they will still be supplying outside catering services, as well as a weekly salad bar and Buddha bowl menu each Tuesday to Thursday but for delivery only.
The statement adds: "The pressure on all hospitality businesses now is unimaginable: rising food and energy costs, staff shortages, reduced footfall due to hybrid working, reduced spend due to the cost-of-living crisis, and total burn-out after the hardest few years possible, all mean that it is simply unsustainable for so many businesses to continue trading, and just completely unviable for us to consider opening in a new location.
"We have been recommended to Crowdfund for a new venue, but we actually don’t feel this is appropriate: asking people for money at a time like this, to support a business that isn’t able to support itself simply doesn’t sit right with us. We’re so incredibly grateful for all the support we’ve received over the years, and continue to receive now, but we cannot and will not ask for handouts.
"For as long as it’s possible, we hope to continue to offer our outside catering services, as well as a weekly salad bar / Buddha bowl menu each Tuesday-Thursday, but this will be for delivery or collection from the Roots Catering Kitchen rather than from a new venue."
They add: "We’ve got a heck of a lot of stuff that we now need to sell, in the hope that we can soften the blow of the current trading conditions, so if you know of anyone planning to open a new business or needs some new equipment in their existing business, let them know. Or if you want the world’s greatest coffee machine in your kitchen, give us a bell! We could do with the space and we need to pay the kitchen rent.
"We’re pretty gutted that we won’t have the lovely Roots space again. It was bloody hard work, but we did love it. We miss seeing you all."
Loyal customers flocked to the comments as many admitted they were just as gutted.
One said: "Absolutely gutted for you guys. We loved visiting for breakfasts, coffees and more. I hope that as time goes on you will find the perfect place and we get to enjoy Marks amazing meals again and to see your smiley faces too. Love and miss you all."
A second said: "Such hard times, Im sorry to hear you can’t open another shop. The knock on effect for consumers is much less choice too - due to the absence of places like yourselves.
"we were in town yesterday and after trying four different places to find they were closed, had run out of food, closed the kitchen early, etc, we eventually found coffee and a sandwich! Such a shame for 2:30pm on a Saturday which should be a busy time! We managed to still eat at a local business rather than a chain luckily."
"That's really sad to hear. We loved our time at Roots cafe and miss seeing you all regularly. You really made a fantastic business though, one you should be totally proud of," a third said.
READ NEXT-
Scottish plane passenger upset as person next to her tucks into rack of barbecue ribs
Edinburgh Playhouse performance cancelled after 'person falls during show'
Crowds gather at Edinburgh park and ride as racers in 'modified vehicles' pull stunts
Mother's Day supermarket deals and ideas from Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's and more
Odd moment Edinburgh man with crutch kicks full keg of beer down city centre street
