Mick closes his Hose garage after 49 years

Mick Bell has closed his garage at Hose after almost 50 years repairing cars for customers across the Vale and Belvoir and he says it has broken his heart.
By Nick Rennie
Published 4th Sep 2020, 13:08 BST
Mick Bell and son Jonathan outside Hose Garage, which they've closed after 49 years working for customers across the Vale of Belvoir EMN-200409-130420001Mick Bell and son Jonathan outside Hose Garage, which they've closed after 49 years working for customers across the Vale of Belvoir EMN-200409-130420001
Mick Bell and son Jonathan outside Hose Garage, which they've closed after 49 years working for customers across the Vale of Belvoir EMN-200409-130420001

The 72-year-old has worked alongside son, Jonny, for the last dozen years at the Harby Road business and he has looked after the vehicles of generations of the same families since starting up back in 1971.

But after being injured in a fall earlier this year Mick decided to shut up shop for good, with his son taking employment elsewhere as a mechanic.

Mick told the Melton Times: “A lot of my customers have become like friends because they’ve been coming to me for years and years.

“I’ve never had to advertise in all these 49 years because customers have come along through word of mouth and they’ve trusted us.

“A lot of them have said they are sad to see us close and it breaks my heart to pack up but I think it’s the right time to do it.”

Born in Syston, Mick learned his trade at the Sandicliffe dealership in Loughborough and looked into starting his own business while living at Gaddesby in the late 1960s.

He recalled: “A garage at Rearsby came up for sale but I got gazumped on that one.

“Then I heard about this business at Hose, which was originally a bike shop, and I’ve never regretted taking it on.

“I’ve been able to walk to work here and the scenery I’ve had to enjoy around here for the last 49 years has been spectacular.”

The business was very different back in the 1970s, he says, with the mechanics of cars being much more complex to work on.

“These days the modern cars all have computer systems and you just have plug them in to see what the problem is,” said Mick.

“Back then I was working on Cortinas, Consuls, Zephyrs and Zodiaks and you had to know your stuff but nowadays it’s all about electronics.”

In the past, the business has also sold second hand cars and operated a vehicle recovery service for Leicestershire Police.

Mick is now looking forward to spending more time with partner, Angela, and tinkering with classic cars.

But he admits he will miss his garage: “It’s been my life and a lot of customers have died on me over the years.

“I went back the other day and it is sad to see it closed up now but I am about ready to retire.”