Michael Feller and Daughter Butchers is set to close at Oxford's Covered Market.
The family-run business has decided to exercise a break clause in their lease to give the owners a rest and to focus on a lifestyle change.
The Feller family has been operating in the market since 1979 and is well-known for their exceptionally high-quality meat and game.Michael Feller, who opened the shop in 1979, had been working as a butcher since the age of 14.
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A closing date is still to be determined but is likely to be before May.
Oxford City Council, which manages the market on behalf of Oxford residents, is actively looking for another butcher.
Company director of M Feller and Daughter Butchers, Mitzi Feller, said: "After over 40 years, Feller’s family-run business has come to a sad decision to close our shop in the covered market.
“However, it is not viable for us to continue in this economic climate. The market has changed and people are leading rather different lives.
“I would like to thank our team for their loyalty and support; it has been a privilege to work with them.
“Thank you to our customers who have supported us over the years, you will be missed by us all.”
Mitzi is the second generation of the Feller family to operate the business.
Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, said: "I am really sad to hear that Fellers will be closing. On a personal level, I have shopped there every week for at least 30 years and will miss the whole team but wish Mitzi and Mark all the best in their future plans.
“I know many Oxford residents will feel the same way I do. The city council is actively looking for another butcher.”
In 2020, the butcher received its latest five-star food hygiene rating and went out of its way to help customers during the pandemic by delivering to their homes.
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The shop waived its usual fee for orders under £15 and delivered 'anywhere within the ring road' for free.
A recent shopper in an online review wrote: "Feller’s has been around longer than I’ve been alive, and you can see why. It’s definitely expensive, but you certainly get what you pay for.
“The meat is exceptional; it’s the best butchers in Oxford and a cornerstone of the Covered Market."
The Covered Market was first opened on the 1st of November 1774.
It was designed by John Gwynne as a replacement for butcher's stalls, predominantly, that needed to be removed from the streets to make space for traffic after The Oxford Mileways Act 1771 was passed.
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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF
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