WICKED Cheesecake in Crossgates have announced that they "can't continue to fight a losing battle" and are set to close.

The business, started by Jason Thirlwall and his wife Sam, has been selling tasty treats on Main Street since October 2020.

On its very first day they had to close early after selling more than 1,000 cakes, such was the sweet-toothed demand, and the following year they opened the Wicked Milk Bar in Inverkeithing.

However, in a post on Facebook they said that, due to soaring costs and a drop in footfall, it's no longer time to bake.

Dunfermline Press: Wicked Cheesecake has been selling delicious treats from Main Street in Crossgates since October 2020. Pictured are Lisa Galloway (left), with Sam and Jason Thirlwall. Wicked Cheesecake has been selling delicious treats from Main Street in Crossgates since October 2020. Pictured are Lisa Galloway (left), with Sam and Jason Thirlwall. (Image: Jim Payne)

It said: "It’s extremely tough to write this, quite possibly one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to write.

"In the three years our doors have been open we’ve overcome everything that’s been thrown at us, storms, pandemics, economical crisis and currently the cost of living.

"Hand on my heart we just can’t do it anymore, we can’t continue to fight a losing battle with suppliers, whether it be energy / materials / packaging ...

"Over the last 12 months I’ve seen so many amazing small businesses close their doors on not only their business but their dream.

"It’s really f****** sad (swear word for added drama).

"To that end I cannot see a stable future for myself and my team."

The Wicked Cheesecake business started online and became so popular during lockdown that Jason and Sam decided to open a shop in Crossgates.

But with so many households struggling with rising energy and food costs, they're having to do without some of those extra little luxuries.

The company said they will fulfil all Christmas orders and continued: "We’ve all poured our hearts into this brand, from the outside it might look amazingly successful, and rest assured we’ve done pretty damn well, but at home at 3am on a Tuesday, worrying about issues night after night, it’s not as good as it seems.

"The shop's been really quiet.

"I worry people don’t like our cakes, are we too expensive, is it perhaps the location, is it the cost of living?

"We've tried to combat that with various offers, deals and thinking out of the box.

"But then I notice on wholesale that we’re by far not alone in this situation, which really saddens me. Without footfall we can’t operate."

It continued: "I’ve put every ounce of effort into this, we all have.

"I’m satisfied I gave it my all, but I need to focus on what’s more important, something I should have done a little while ago, focus on my mental health.

"The stresses and grief have outweighed the good stuff for quite some time now.

"We’re not closing just yet, but the wheels are in motion.

"I just want to thank every single customer who’s helped support a dream and a small business to become the brand we’ve become.

"If you’d like to support us we’re open all weekend, we’re dying to see you."