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The Sun
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
English city's oldest shop is forced to shut after 160 YEARS in business as Brits mourn ‘huge loss'
ONE of Britain's oldest shops has been forced to shut after 160 years due to soaring bills. WH Mogford & Son in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol has been serving customers in its 'Aladdin's Cave' hardware store since the 1860s. 5 5 Owner Paul Gillam, who has spent 30 years working at the shop, said it was time to close permanently due to rocketing bills. He told The Sun: 'It's a culmination of footfall dropping off, banks closing in the high street, people shopping online, and the cost of amenities, bills and staffing costs. 'It wasn't an easy decision. It's taken me a couple of years to come to the decision to close down. 'I'm disappointed for the regular customers but it's the right decision at this time.' Paul, 57, added: 'I will take a couple of weeks off then I need to find another job.' The shop, which serves a once bustling high street on the outskirts of Bristol, will pull down the shutters for the last time in September. One Bristol local, who grew up nearby, described the imminent store closure as 'terrible news'. Another replying to Paul's post on Facebook breaking the news, replied: 'Very sorry to hear this. 'I have known the shop my entire life. 'There will be many many saddened people when they hear this news. Popular bank with over 400 spots confirms it is shutting 18 branches in August – it follows 148 closures by rivals 'Mogfords has been a much loved and relied upon business in the village throughout generations.' Another said: 'You will be very much missed. My sons call your shop 'the shop that sells everything'." 'As a fellow business owner I am aware of the significant rise in operating costs over the last few years. I can't imagine how difficult this decision has been for you. 'On behalf of the local community a huge thank you and best wishes for your next 'chapter'.' 5 5 It comes as shops across the country struggle to survive in the changing consumer landscape. Both chain stores and independents have closed at an alarming rate, citing decreased footfall and rising prices as the reason behind the closures. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
English city's oldest shop is forced to shut after 160 YEARS in business as Brits mourn ‘huge loss'
Locals were saddened to hear the 'terrible news' END OF AN ERA English city's oldest shop is forced to shut after 160 YEARS in business as Brits mourn 'huge loss' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ONE of Britain's oldest shops has been forced to shut after 160 years due to soaring bills. WH Mogford & Son in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol has been serving customers in its 'Aladdin's Cave' hardware store since the 1860s. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 & Son in Bristol has closed after 160 years Credit: Jon Rowley 5 The 'Aladdin's Cave' hardware store has been open since the 1860s Credit: Jon Rowley 5 Owner Paul Gillam, 57, said rising bills and decreased footfall have forced him to close Credit: Jon Rowley Owner Paul Gillam, who has spent 30 years working at the shop, said it was time to close permanently due to rocketing bills. He told The Sun: 'It's a culmination of footfall dropping off, banks closing in the high street, people shopping online, and the cost of amenities, bills and staffing costs. 'It wasn't an easy decision. It's taken me a couple of years to come to the decision to close down. 'I'm disappointed for the regular customers but it's the right decision at this time.' Paul, 57, added: 'I will take a couple of weeks off then I need to find another job.' The shop, which serves a once bustling high street on the outskirts of Bristol, will pull down the shutters for the last time in September. One Bristol local, who grew up nearby, described the imminent store closure as 'terrible news'. Another replying to Paul's post on Facebook breaking the news, replied: 'Very sorry to hear this. 'I have known the shop my entire life. 'There will be many many saddened people when they hear this news. Popular bank with over 400 spots confirms it is shutting 18 branches in August – it follows 148 closures by rivals 'Mogfords has been a much loved and relied upon business in the village throughout generations.' Another said: 'You will be very much missed. My sons call your shop 'the shop that sells everything'." 'As a fellow business owner I am aware of the significant rise in operating costs over the last few years. I can't imagine how difficult this decision has been for you. 'On behalf of the local community a huge thank you and best wishes for your next 'chapter'.' 5 Locals were saddened to hear of the shop's closure Credit: Jon Rowley 5 The shop will close for good in September Credit: Jon Rowley It comes as shops across the country struggle to survive in the changing consumer landscape. Both chain stores and independents have closed at an alarming rate, citing decreased footfall and rising prices as the reason behind the closures.
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Historic 'oldest shop' in English city is forced to shut its doors after 160 years of trading - with soaring bills blamed
One of the 'oldest' shops in Bristol has been forced to shutter its doors after 160 due to the crippling effects of soaring bills. WH Mogford & Son, tucked away in Westbury-on-Trym high street, has been a traditional hardware store since 1860s. And even in the two decades before its becoming a tool shop, it served as an ironmongers. But now, the time to close its doors for the final time has come around with its owner Paul Gillam making a saddening announcement to reeling customer on June 14. Taking to Facebook, Mr Gillam, who has spent the last 30 years tirelessly working in the shop, announced the store's 'long history' would be coming to an end. Giving an official closing date of September 2025, he revealed the business which he took over in 2004, was shuttering 'permanently' due to sky rocketing bills. 'I have come to this decision due to the continuing decline in customer numbers, the increasing costs of stock, staffing, bank and utility charges and the desperate state of repair of the rented premises,' he said. 'I would like to thank the many local customers who have supported us over the years.' Described as an 'Aladdin's cave of DIY, gardening and pet supplies', WH Mogford & Son gained popularity for selling individual items rather than multi packs, such as a single nail or one Rawlplug. During the pandemic, the team recalled how one gentleman would walk to the shop each week to buy 10 screws for 1p each, just so he could have a chat with staff. Mr Gillam had taken on various job roles over the years, before he eventually came to the helm of the historic hardware store after the previous owner, the last Mogford to ever own it, went into retirement in 2004. He ran WH Mogford & Son, which was previously dubbed by M Shed as the oldest store in the city alongside his daughter Sophie, who took over the book-keeping after her grandmother retired. One Bristol local, who grew up nearby, described the imminent store closure as 'terrible news'. He told MailOnline how his mother 'always said that for anything around the house, from torches to screwdrivers to pet food, if Mogford's didn't have it then no one would'. He added: 'I've always popped in there still for odd things. Friendly, helpful - a real old-fashioned shop in the best sense of the description.' Following the announcement, other locals and customers were quick to share their dismay at the shop's closure. 'Very sorry to hear this. Have known the shop my entire life, as grew up, and still live, in Westbury-on-Trym,' one said. 'My father used to sell the spare parts for Tilley StormLight paraffin lanterns to the tall slim chap, always thought his name was John Mogford, but not certain of that. 'There will be many many saddened people when they hear this news. Mogfords has been a much loved and relied upon business in the village throughout generations.' Another added: 'A huge loss to the village, you will be very much missed. My sons call your shop 'the shop that sells everything'. 'As a fellow business owner I am aware of the significant rise in operating costs over the last few years. I can't imagine how difficult this decision has been for you. 'On behalf of the local community a huge thank you and best wishes for your next 'chapter'.' A local chimed in: 'I'm sorry to hear about this Paul. I was born in Westbury-on-Trym in late 1940's & I knew Mogfords Ironmongers shop well until I left in my early teens. '[I] have returned to the local area on several occasions over the years and made a point to see it. 'The shop is like part of the furniture that makes the village and will be surely sadly missed.' Nearby Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol Zoo, which was the oldest provincial animal enclosure shut down its main centre after 186 years. The zoo, which was on the edge of Clifton Downs closed its main centre due to the impact of the pandemic and lockdowns. At the time, the society said: 'For many years, Bristol Zoo Gardens has faced various challenges. Namely, declining visitor numbers, the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and the challenges of meeting the changing needs of the animals.' According to the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquarium, 24 zoos were at risk of closing due to the third national lockdown.
Metro
15 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
This UK city's oldest shop is closing after 160 years in business
A traditional shop in Bristol said to be the oldest in the city is closing in a matter of months after opening more than 160 years ago. Hardware shop WH Mogford & Son, in Westbury-on-Trym, which has been stood on the high street since the 1860s has been forced to close. Owner Paul Gillam, who has worked in the shop for three decades, posted a message to the shop's Facebook followers on June 14. He said: 'After 30 years in the business and knowing it's long history, sadly I have come to a very difficult decision to close the business permanently by the end of September 2025. 'I have come to this decision due to the continuing decline in customer numbers, the increasing costs of stock, staffing, bank and utility charges and the desperate state of repair of the rented premises. 'I would like to thank the many local customers who have supported us over the years.' The shop has been described as an 'Aladdin's cave' of DIY, gardening and pet supplies. During the pandemic, the team recalled how one gentleman would walk to the shop each week to buy 10 screws for 1p each, just so he could have a chat with staff. Customers revealed how upset they were over the store's closure. Peter Berry said: 'Very sorry to hear Paul, but not unexpected. Sadly support for local businesses generally has waned and the Hardware trade has been hit harder than many. 'I would personally like to thank you for many years of pleasurable business and wish you, family and staff my best wishes for the future.' More Trending Victoria Laws added: 'I'm so gutted for you, the staff, for us having an aladdins cave on our doorstep led by perfect customer service. 'There probably isn't much mark up on each product and overheads are killing businesses right now, but we all need to truly support local, even the big guys, before tapping on our phone to order.' Paul took over the business in 2004 but had worked for the previous owner, who was the last in the line of the original Mogford famil, since 1995. During the pandemic, the team recalled how one gentleman would walk to the shop each week to buy 10 screws for 1p each, just so he could have a chat with staff. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Map shows how hot it has to get before it is officially a heatwave in the UK MORE: 'Vigilantes' murdered innocent father they thought was a paedophile MORE: Rachel Reeves reveals £15,000,000,000 transport projects – here's what we know
