A mum who was forced to close her cafe thought by many to be "the hub of the community" has compared the experience to "losing a family member." Charlie Allcock had run Marmajo's for the last 18 years - starting out on Blackwood High St before increasing demand saw her relocate to bigger premises on Pen-y-Fan Industrial Estate in Crumlin, Caerphilly, in 2010.
But, shortly before Christmas, the 49-year-old from Tredegar finally shut the doors of the cafe (named after Margaret, Mary and Josephine - her two grandmothers and great aunt) due to spiralling costs. She reluctantly made the decision after watching her energy bills triple to around £1,800 a month.
"We all knew it was coming but hoped that somehow we'd find a way through," said Charlie. "Having to tell the girls I work with, 'That's it, we can't go on' was like a sort of bereavement, as though I'd just lost a family member.
