Salon owner 'heartbroken' over closure of Mama Sanctuary amid spiralling Covid debts

A salon offering free childcare to mums while they get pampered is closing down.

The Mama Sanctuary opened in Stockport in 2019 and has been a huge hit with mums and mums-to-be escaping for a bit of 'me time'.

Set up as a 'pregnancy and motherhood hub' its aim was to make life easier for busy parents, by giving them access to free childcare while accessing beauty treatments and other services like antenatal classes, sling libraries and breastfeeding support.

But 'heartbroken' owner Rachael Kirkwood has announced the place is going into voluntary liquidation and will close at the end of this month. In a Facebook post to customers, she said: "We have really struggled since COVID-19 to keep up with debts incurred throughout various lockdowns, rising energy bills, business rates and wages.

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"Despite personally putting over £120,000 into the business to renovate the property I have continued to get myself in more debt to keep the salon going and to keep my staff in a job. I can no longer afford to keep doing this as I have 5 children to feed myself and have not been able to take a profit since we opened."

Stock and assets will be sold off, she said and any gift voucher holders will be refunded.

"I am so sad that we have to close a business that so many mums rely on when they need a break," said Rachael. "Whilst I feel like I’ve failed I know I have done everything I could to stay open as long as possible. I am proud of the amazing team we have and I am so sad that I’ve had to let them down, but I have to also think about my own health and family too."

Rachael came up with the idea for Mama Sanctuary, between the Redrock