Family-run store shutting after over 150 years in major blow to city high street

A 150-year-old shop is set to close its doors in a huge blow to the local high street. Robin Elt Shoes in Worcester, founded in 1872, is one of the oldest shoe shops in Britain and has been a staple on the Worcestershire high street for over a century.

However, after the chain has battled through years of economic changes, bosses have now confirmed the sad news that the branch is shutting down for good. Managing director Jenny Elt shared her heartbreak at the news of the closure. She said: "It's very difficult for myself, being the family business, it's very sad to have to come to this decision. The shop is no longer viable as a store that can continue into the future, unfortunately. We can't pick money out of thin air."

Customer Liz Evans remembers visiting the store as a child. She told the BBC: "I can remember coming into Worcesterwith my mother, I'm 72 now, but I can remember coming in when we would always go for shoes. You came into Worcester for the quality of the shoes."

Ms Evans added: "I think it's very sad because it's the end of quite a line of old family businesses that have been in Worcester for a long time. It's just very sad to see these old places go, where you really had an individual service."

A spokesperson for Worcester City Council told the Sun: "Like all city centres, Worcester is facing the challenge of online shopping and a move to town centres being more focused on leisure and entertainment activities." The council went on to emphasise its efforts to try and support local businesses in the area.

The representative continued: "Worcester City Council, working in partnership with Worcestershire County Council, Worcester BID and other stakeholders, has carried out extensive work to support our city centre traders.

"Worcester has a distinctive shopping offering combining well-known high street brands with unique independent traders, and we are proud to support that model, including as a partner in the recently established Independent Retailers Forum.

"We have attracted significant funding to invest in the area, including £4.5 million to improve the public realm, which has seen a major refurbishment and improvements in the Shambles, making the area more attractive and accessible."

This Robin Elt Shoes location will be sorely missed by those who visited over the years, with the store previously having been named as ladies' independent retailer of the year at an industry awards ceremony at the National Conference Centre in 2017.

The family business also received a highly commended award for men's independent retailer of the year and multiple footwear retailer of the year at the Footwear Industry Award.

While this high street lost is, indeed, tragic, Robin Elt Shoes do still have two other locations in Malvern and Hereford open for those who wish to visit.