One of the UK’s oldest shoe retailers is set to close one of its long-standing high street stores in Worcester after serving customers for 153 years. Robin Elt Shoes, which first opened its doors in 1872, will permanently shut down on January 10, 2026. However, the brand’s other branches in Hereford, Ludlow, Malvern, Leominster, and Totnes will continue to operate as usual.
Jenny Elt, the managing director, expressed deep sadness over the closure of the family-owned business, attributing the decision to the store’s lack of financial viability for future operations. She mentioned the challenges faced in sustaining the business and emphasized the impossibility of generating funds out of thin air.
Worcester City Council’s spokesperson highlighted the widespread trend of online shopping impacting traditional retail centers, with a shift towards town centers focusing more on leisure and entertainment activities. The council, in collaboration with other stakeholders, has been actively supporting city center traders. Worcester’s shopping scene boasts a blend of well-known high street brands and unique independent retailers, a model that the council takes pride in promoting through initiatives like the Independent Retailers Forum.
In a related development, Scope, a charity shop chain, has closed three additional high street branches in Morden, Torquay, and Washington as part of its plan to shut down 77 shops this year. Scope initiated the closures following a forecasted £1.5 million loss, leading to potential redundancies for around 200 retail staff and affecting approximately 2,000 volunteers. Debbie Boylen, head of retail at Scope, expressed regret over the closures of the Morden, Torquay, and Washington stores, emphasizing the vital role these shops played in supporting the charity’s work with disabled individuals and their families.