The recession has killed two friends’ dream of running a fishing tackle shop as they leave Wokingham facing bankruptcy and with a “one-way ticket out of the country”.

Dan Pearce and Mick Hawkins opened D & M Tackle in Denmark Street in February with hopes of providing the town’s fishermen with cut-price adventure trips hunting giant catfish around the world.

Their other aspiration was to get children “away from their PlayStations and out on to the rivers and lakes, fishing”.

However, the duo were unable to bring in enough cash to cope with the high rents and business rates in Wokingham.

Mr Pearce said: “This Government gives no chance to anyone trying to start up a business.

“The business rates make it impossible to get going.

“We’ve tried to do everything we can to do things properly but there is no help for people like us.”

The shop closed for business on Friday and to make matters worse the pair were unable to pay their business rates so have received a court summons from Wokingham Borough Council.

They say going to court will leave them both personally bankrupt.

Mr Pearce added: “We’ve had it with this country, with this Government taking so much money off honest traders trying to do something they’ve always wanted to do.

“There’s no help so we’re getting a one-way ticket out of this country.

“We’ll move to the Middle East. I’ll happily pay their taxes and their living costs rather than give another penny to this Government.”

The duo’s time in Wokingham has not been without controversy. Shortly after they opened they became embroiled in a row with the council over a plan to close Denmark Street for sewer maintenance.

Despite their “world coming crashing down” the duo insist they will have fond memories of Wokingham and are proud they will close the business not owing any of their suppliers any cash.

Mr Pearce said: “I’d like to thank all our customers in Wokingham who have been brilliant. I hope we’ve made it interesting by not lying down.

“I’d like to apologise to all the kids we’ve let down by not being able to make the fishing days we’ve organised.”

Mr Hawkins said: “We gave it our best shot.

“This was our dream, we tried it but because of the Government and the recession, we haven’t had a chance.

“We can leave with our heads held high. We’ve put all our money into this, paid our suppliers like so many people wouldn’t have and are now facing bankruptcy because we don’t have anything left.”

Mr Pearce added: “We’d also like to thank The Wokingham Times. Without it no-one would have known about us.”

Site navigation

• Home
• News
• Business
• Sport
• Entertainment
• Lifestyle
• Jobs
• Property
• Motoring
• Classifieds

• A A