'Sense of community' saves famed smokehouse near Harrogate during lockdown

Husband and wife team Gabby and Paul Palmer had only taken over Mackenzies, located not far from Fewston and Swinsty reservoirs, a year ago.

In fact, they had been in the middle of a make over to transform the smokehouse, restaurant and café, which has been famed for the last 20 years for its fresh local produce from the Dales, when the coronavirus emergency struck the nation.

The couple said there had been dark moments at their independent business near Blubberhouses but, once they came to terms with the fact that food shopping as we knew it had changed, they hadn't looked back.

Gabby Palmer said: "Having only taken over the business at the end of last year, the situation initially took the wind out of our sails.

"Like most businesses, we were thrown into a situation where guidelines and advice were changing daily and the ground under us seemed to shift."

"But we decided to look forward and be positive through these difficult times - rather than dwell on the insecurity and uncertainty and responded quickly to the constantly changing measures and guidelines."

The couple quickly built a brand new website and within a week nearly all its quality local produce from including its butchers counter, fresh vegetables, fruit and dairy,as well as larder essentials like flour and pasta were uploaded and ready to buy online.

Mackenzie’s team is now working hard to keep the community safe and healthy with a home delivery service

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Paul Palmer said: "If I had to choose what has had the biggest impact on us over the last few weeks, it wouldn’t be the fear or the uncertainty, although there have been some dark moments, it would be the new sense of community that has prevailed.