A LONG-established jewellers in Worcester is closing its doors after 16 years.

Ruth Quartermaine, who runs ICE Fine Jewellery in Chapel Walk, has decided to close the business on December 31 in order to spend more time with her family.

She said: “I’m incredibly enthusiastic about the business and I’ve relished the experience of running it. Operating a retail premises is a lifestyle choice and it’s something I’ve dedicated myself to for many years, but now the time has come to step back and be present in the lives of my family.”

Mrs Quartermaine said she is excited to become a grandmother for the first time and plans to spend time with loved ones.and help both of her daughters with running their own businesses.

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She said: “The decision came about mainly because our youngest is expecting her first baby after Christmas so it has come to the point where it feels like the right thing to do.

“It feels like the time is right, I’ve been here for 15 years and it has been a big part of my life in that time. It is a change but you have to adapt to changes in life.”

The shop has a returning customer base of more than 20,000 customers, Mrs Quartermaine has been in the industry for more than 20 years and said she would miss her customers and her store.

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She added: “I’m going to miss ICE and all the wonderful customers who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting over the years.

“To say farewell in style, we’re going to be holding a spectacular closing down sale and we’re reducing the price of all jewellery stock by a massive 50 per cent.

“A huge thank you should go out to all the regular customers we have had over the years, we always tried to help people rather than having them being pounced on by salespeople."

The closing down sale starts on November 2.

ICE was one of the three jewellers shops run by the Ian Quartermaine group. There is now only one shop in the group still open, Ian Quartermaine's in Reindeer Court, after the other shop, located next door was closed in September 2018 after the lease expired.