Leisure business, Maglia Rosso, in Hawstead, near Bury St Edmunds, to close cycle shop after 11 years

A popular leisure business is set to close its cycle shop after 11 years.

Maglia Rosso, in Lawshall Road, Hawstead, near Bury St Edmunds, said online shopping and rising costs were to blame.

The family business however also runs a café, glamping site and events at the site, which it is looking to expand.

Matthew Denny, who founded the business with dad, Barry, in 2014, said: “It is with great sadness that Barry and I have decided that the cycle sales side of our business will be discontinuing within the next few months, due to a whole host of reasons.

“Our business is not closing; we will still be operating our café, running events and operating and probably expanding our holiday cabins activity, but scaling back on cycle sales.

“The inexorable rise in on-line purchasing which will inevitably see the end of retail as we once knew it is one factor, but combined with rising wage costs, national insurance rises, business rates increases, the poor state of the general economy, reduced consumer confidence and lack of support from our suppliers it is impossible to run the shop profitably.

“We will continue with cycle servicing and repairs, bike fits, cycle hire and our café will undergo a re-launch, aimed at a wider market.

“Our events will also continue, including our Mille Maglia Sportive and the St Nics bike ride, as well as our popular monthly classic cars events and evening socials.”

Mr Denny added the Maglia Rosso will also be concentrating on its holiday enterprise with its Wigwam Cabins, ‘continuing to grow in popularity’, and is hoping expand the business, subject to planning permissions.

Mr Denny said: “We will be selling off our stock of bikes over the next few months at discounted prices, and will start this immediately with 20 per cent off the recommended retail price of existing stock, throughout March.

“We have had a good run over the past 11 years, but nothing lasts forever. We are proud to have sold lots of bikes during this time and hope to retain the goodwill of our loyal customers as we go forward.”

Matthew and Barry Denny founded the business when they bought the former Metcalfe Arms pub in Hawstead.

Both keen cyclists they undertook major refurbishment of the building and opened in April 2014 as an enthusiast cycle shop and destination café.

The business won a number of awards and became a centre for cycling in the region, also hosting events.

The business grew during the pandemic period, which is when Maglia Rosso, invested in six holiday cabins, situated in its five acre paddock, under the Wigwam Holidays banner.

But Mr Denny added: “The cycle industry has suffered enormously since with reduced demand and over supply and many businesses large and small have struggled.”