We are NOT closing, says pie maker John (From St Helens Star)

We are NOT closing, says pie maker John

9:09am Thursday 29th January 2009 in News By Andrew Kilmurray

“RUMOURS of our demise have been greatly exaggerated!”

That’s the message from John Burchall, who wants to dispel rumours that legendary St Helens pork butchers Burchalls – widely known for its pies – is to follow bakers Pimbletts by crumbling under the credit crunch.

He contacted the Star after becoming sick of speculation sweeping the borough that his family-run firm will be the next to sink.

He told the Star: “We are not closing, we have not been taken over, and I am not retiring – and that’s all with a capital N.

“People have been stopping myself, my staff and customers across St Helens, Billinge and Prescot, saying: ‘I can’t believe you are closing, or have you been taken over?’ “The wildest rumour is we have been taken over by Americans!

“The next thing they’ll be saying is we’ve been bought out by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (the Manchester City FC owner) – although I wouldn’t mind some of his money!

“(But ) I’m just getting a bit brassed off with all the gossip really.

“We are still here – and rumours of our demise have been greatly exaggerated.”

John, aged 59, who has been at the helm of the Westfield Street firm for more than 20 years, says the gossip started before St Helens bakers Pimbletts went bust in December.

The collapse of Pimmies only seems to have added greater impetus to the rumour mill, but John says Burchalls has not suffered from the economic downturn.

He said: “We are doing very well, and can’t really say we’ve been hit by the credit crunch!”