Butchers JC Rook & Sons goes into administration

One of Kent’s oldest and biggest butchery firms with 11 shops across the county has gone into administration, putting more than 130 jobs at risk.

JC Rook & Sons has been established for more than 55 years after opening its first butchers in Dover in 1965.

But today all its shops failed to open, with bosses said to have put the business into administration.

It has left staff heartbroken and is a huge blow to the industry and high street where the firm has outlets in Broadstairs, Deal, Dover, Folkestone, Gillingham, Herne Bay, Hythe, Maidstone, Southfleet, Ramsgate and Sittingbourne.

Writing on the Broadstairs’ shop’s Facebook page this morning, manager Dean says: “It’s a sad day. JC Rook & Sons went into administration last night. I got a phone call at 8pm saying we cannot open today or in the future.

“I am absolutely heartbroken at this time in writing this, not just for myself but my fantastic team I had working for me and also for the town of Broadstairs.

“In the nearly five years I have been back at the shop, we as a team have turned it around and moved it forward.