A POPULAR ice cream parlour in Andover has announced that it is closing in December due to the cost-of-living crisis.

The owners of Canto Gelato announced the closure in a heartfelt post on Facebook on Wednesday, November 30, thanking customers for their support over the last three years.

Owner Kelly Jones told the Advertiser: “My trade is a quarter of what it used to be, and where I’m paying so much more, even boxes for Just Eat and everything, everything has just gone up in price.

Andover Advertiser: Canto Gelato is based on Andover HighstreetCanto Gelato is based on Andover Highstreet (Image: Canto Gelato)READ MORE: Charities join forces to help families and animal companions for this Christmas

“So, we just can’t compete anymore; so where we haven’t made a profit for months and months, it’s got to the stage where I just can’t do it anymore.

“I can’t afford to pay my bills, I can’t afford to pay my rates, I can’t afford to go and get the correct packaging, and the stress levels are ridiculous, so unfortunately I had to make the call to close.”

Kelly said that she feels both “sad and a sense of relief” about the shop closing.

She said: “Half of me is absolutely gutted; me and my husband Steve have put everything into this, money and emotion and time.

Andover Advertiser: Kelly with her husband Steve (credit: Kelly Jones)Kelly with her husband Steve (credit: Kelly Jones) (Image: Kelly Jones)“But then there is that sense of relief now of maybe I can go onto something that isn’t so destroying emotionally.”

Kelly is hoping to close the shop for the last time on Christmas Eve, with plans to “go out with a bang” with music and a “bit of a party” to mark the store's closure.

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Having already had to let staff go, there are currently five members of the Canto Gelato team who will be left without work when the shop closes.

Andover Advertiser: Kelly with members of Canto Gelato staff (Credit: Kelly Jones)Kelly with members of Canto Gelato staff (Credit: Kelly Jones) (Image: Kelly Jones)Kelly wanted to thank her team for all of their support, saying: “A huge thank you to my staff, old and new.

“They stuck by us through Covid, they stuck by us through the recession.

“We’ve had, unfortunately, to let them go but they’ve all been really supportive and we’ve got a bunch of regulars who come in who have been brilliant.”