The owner of a popular Belfast deli and bakery says he is "broken" after having to close the business due to rising costs.
Dale Tucker, owned Tuckers on the Falls Road for four years, serving freshly prepped meals each day, with people travelling from across Belfast on a Sunday for the carvery menu. Tuckers now has the shutters down, and a 'To Let' sign above the sign, a sight which brings back raw emotions to Dale.
As others in the takeaway and hospitality industry face similar stresses, Dale is speaking out in hope that it can encourage others to do the same. He said he wouldn't want anyone else to go through what he has.
Read more: 'We're in crisis': More than 40 NI takeaways shut in three weeks
Speaking to Belfast Live, he said: "I started my first job when I was 14, and went in as a kitchen porter but that only last six months because I didn't have a National Insurance number. I got that, and went straight back a year later. They trained me and put me through college to become a chef.
"After I done my three years, I just progressed, and worked all over the town. I started my own business, with 22 years of experience. I loved it - it is a feel good factor, when people are saying 'tell the chef that was gorgeous' or when people actually walk into my kitchen to say thanks. That made me happy and proud of what I sent out.
"I had some savings, and seen the unit on the Falls Road. I had a lot of faith in what I do as a chef. Four years with Tuckers was great, we had regulars, who were just fantastic. They would have come in and would start clearing tables and doing dishes if were were busy, that's how good they were. It was just amazing."
Dale said he noticed prices beginning to rise just before Christmas. In recent months, he says prices of food "has gone through the roof" with businesses now paying double for products.
"You can't charge people extortionate prices for a meal," he added.
"We are only a cafe in West Belfast, we are trying to keep the price down for the community but it was just so hard to do. This is going to get worse in the months ahead.
"How can small businesses make a profit? It's a disgrace. We weren't willing to overcharge our customers. It just wasn't on the table.
"For hospitality, we can't charge people anymore than what we are already charging. It got to a stage where we thought 'enough is enough' and we closed the business. It would have hurt too many people if we had of kept going.
"I have been emotional, and upset, since the closure, but the support that people have shown, has been unreal. It helped a lot. It helped me get through a hard time.
"People were messaging me from Scotland and England, wishing me well, and expressing sadness that we are going. We needed help six months ago. People need financial support, otherwise we are going to lose everything. Yes it is hard, but this is what makes Belfast great - the small companies, cafes, restaurants.
"That is what it's all about - elected representatives need to get back, and they need to help us."
Michael Henderson, from the Northern Ireland Takeaway Association, says listening to the words of Dale is difficult, but that unfortunately, his position is not unique.
"It is heartbreaking," Michael said.
"I know how much Dale gave back to the West Belfast community through sponsorship of teams and clubs. His meals were adored.
"My team and I have heard of over 40 takeaways in the last three weeks, have closed. We predict that a quarter of all takeaways in Northern Ireland will close by the end of this year, if we don't get support from the Executive right now.
"We have been calling for support for months. We need a partnership between the hospitality and takeaway industry, and the Assembly. We said a crisis was coming, and now it is beyond that. The crisis is here."
Video by Belfast Live videographer Harry Bateman.
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