Worksop: Ex-bird’s girls ‘overwhelmed’ by support for their new sandwich shop

Ex employees of Birds open a new sandwich shop on Bridge Street, Worksop. Pictured are from left Maureen Lidgett, Katie Bradley, manager Tracy Mattey and Dayna Smith

A determined trio who joined forces to open their own business after being ‘sacked without warning’ from Bird’s butchers say they have been overwhelmed with support from the community.

Tracy Mattey, Maureen Lidgett and Dayna Smith were delighted to see hungry Worksop folk flock to their new sandwich shop, Fresh To Go, which officially opened at Bridge Place on Wednesday 1st July.

It has been a rough couple of months for the ladies, who were left ‘jobless and devastated’ when Bird’s went into sudden voluntary liquidation in March.

Bird’s had been operating on Bridge Place for more than 100 years and its closure shocked staff members and loyal customers alike.

Tracy, who has assumed the role of manager and will oversee a staff of three, including Maureen and Dayna, said: “The owner came in, pulled the shutters down and told everyone that was that. We were basically sacked without any warning.”

“We are still disgusted by what happened, but we wanted to move on and turn our negative situation into a positive one. We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received.”

Fresh To Go sells all the breakfast and lunchtime fare that Bird’s was so popular for - including fresh sandwiches, jacket potatoes and sweet treats.

And Tracy said that the opening day was ‘suprisingly busy’.

“I couldn’t believe how many customers we had, to say it was out very first day,” she said. “Of course, we were all a little daunted - who wouldn’t be? But we needn’t have worried.”

“It was lovely because people walking past the shop recognised us from Bird’s and were coming in to say hello.”

Bird’s released this statement to the Guardian: “All employees were informed either verbally or by letter that the company was going into voluntary liquidation.”

“Therefore, all staff members received their notice of their redundancy entitlements.”

“The staff were told on a regular basis that things were tough at Bird’s.”

“As a company everyone worked extremely hard to keep things going but in the end the company was no longer viable.”

“We would like to take this opportunity to wish the ladies every success in their new shop.”

Fresh To Go is located at 21 Bridge Place.