A LOCAL tourism and restaurant business is looking optimistically to the future despite being told it will not be able to open for business until the end of the summer.
Jenny and John King, of Higher Cadham Farm, Jacobstowe, have not had any income since February 25 because of a foot and mouth outbreak next to their premises — but they are refusing to be negative about the situation.
'It has been depressing for us and all our animals had to go but we cannot look back, we must now look to the future and hope that we will have the same success as we did before all this happened,' said Jenny, who was runner-up AA Landlady of the Year in 1998.
Higher Cadham Farm has been given a category A notice, which means that nobody is allowed to come onto the premises, and the Kings have been informed that it could be the end of the summer before they can welcome customers again.
Jenny said at the moment she and her husband were cleaning out and disinfecting all the farm buildings.
The farm was previously home to 500 sheep, two pet pot-bellied pigs and two pet goats who all had to be killed under the contiguous cull policy.
The last of the staff have just been laid off and the business, which saw hundreds of people though the doors each month, is losing at least £3,500 a week.
When the foot and mouth crisis hit, Jenny's booking for March which included 650 meals and 175 B&B nights all had to be cancelled.
She said one of the things that had kept them going through the crisis was all the cards and presents they had received from customers as far away as America.
'People have been so supportive and really incredible and I am really looking forward to seeing everyone again just as soon as we are given permission to open which I hope will be August Bank Holiday Weekend,' said Jenny.
Higher Cadham Farm opened as a holiday establishment 25 years ago and is a former winner of the Dartmoor Warmest Welcome Award.