YEARS of “blood, sweat and tears” to create a community of independent shops and businesses in Hereford have been sabotaged overnight with the introduction of crippling 90% rent rises.

An “indie” fightback against the city’s multi-million pound Old Market development over four years ago has brought a string of popular shops and restaurants to West Street and Aubrey Street.

But this successful community hub of enterprising young business people renting units in a large commercial block is now faced with a grim choice to relocate or pay more to the landlord.

According to one trader, eight businesses have quit West Street in eight months and, despite nationwide warnings that high streets are in ‘dire straits’, the entrepreneurs of this area of town are feeling “deserted” with no support or encouragement from officialdom.

After the teams behind Hereford’s award-winning restaurant A Rule of Tum, The Den and the Beer House received the shock news about a significant hike in rents from new landlords, they agreed to put in a joint bid for the building. But as a consortium they were told their £1.6 million offer was unacceptable.

This Saturday, The Den re-opens in Bridge Street after leaving West Street where the team had gone on to open a second business, The Dog House.

“We didn’t want to feel bullied,” said Jade Owen. “We would have been happy to pay another 10 or 20%.”

Initially, The Den was presented with a 90% rent increase for its premises in West Street, and after negotiations the figure was reduced to 60 %.

In addition, bosses were also asked to sign a 10-year lease.

“We would have been happy to pay another 10 or 20%,” said Jade.

“It was such a blow. We were part of a community where we were and had a great relationship with the surrounding businesses.”

She said that The Den’s popularity had led to the opening of The Dog House.

“We spent thousands of pounds on it, it was devastating having to close it down,” she added. “It had only been open for six months so we couldn’t take a risk and sign a 10-year-lease.”

Last year, West Street staged its second ‘indie’ food festival, drawing more than 8,000 to the area.

But Jonny Bright who runs the Beer House with his partner, Amelie, expressed some doubt about this August’s planned event.

“We might have to knock it on the head because of the uncertainty,” he said. The Beer House, a beer shop and micro-brewery has proved a big hit with customers, but he is considering a move.

“The hike in rents has left everyone feeling very upset and demoralised,” he said.

“Let’s just hope we can maintain the area in the way it’s been built up. We’ve felt so connected.”

He owns his premises, directly opposite the block affected by the rent rises.

“It’s taken three or four years to build this area up with blood, sweat and tears,” he added.

“We feed off one another in this area, but the street has become absolutely dead.”

Ed Kirk, who runs A Rule of Tum and adjacent The Bookshop in the same block with his brother, Dorian and Jon Stead, said they had still not received details of the anticipated rent increase.

“We need to expand, we need more space, but there is so much uncertainty,” said Ed.

Last year, their enterprise scooped a coveted Observer Food Monthly best UK Sunday lunch award.

As well as their two businesses in Aubrey Street, they have opened a restaurant in Worcester.

Kritsakorn Tangjaritsakul, who runs the long-established Thai on Wye in West Street, fears that his rent could be doubled.

His step-father, Stephen Lambert was also worried that the new landlords’ improvements could “spoil the atmosphere” of the restaurant.

“The Thai on Wye is an institution, but they want to rip out the windows and put in a huge glass window,” he said.

“The landlords are from Manchester, and a huge window might be all right in the city, but not in Hereford.”

The Hereford Times has sought comment from the Cheshire landlords of the properties affected, but – at the time of going to press – has not received a response.