Redundant Ribble Valley worker comes back as the boss (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Redundant Ribble Valley worker comes back as the boss

12:20pm Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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A WORKER who was made redundant when an off-licence chain collapsed has taken over the lease and opened a new wine shop.

Tom Jones, previously manager of the Threshers shop in Whalley, lost his job when the company went out of business in November last year.

Now, the 24-year-old from Clitheroe has taken over the lease of the old Threshers shop in King Street and is starting life as the managing director of The Whalley Wine Shop Ltd.

The former Longridge High School pupil is in the process of revamping the store and is planning to open in April with the creation of two jobs.

He said: “At the moment the shop is just standing empty in a beautiful high street. It would be a real shame if it was just left derelict.

“And I am really excited about bringing it back to life.

“Our mission is to prov-ide the sort of help to customers that you don’t get in a supermarket. The new shop will sell good wines from independent wine producers, bottled beers from local brewe-ries, and we’ll deliver too.”

Mr Jones, was one of four people to be made redundant when First Quench, the company behind Threshers, went into administration.

The firm also owned shops in King Street in Clitheroe, Bolton Street in Ramsbottom and Berry Lane in Longridge.

He added: “I’m hoping that I will be able to buck the trend and make this shop a success.”