One of the UK’s long-standing shoe retailers is set to close a high street store after serving customers for over 150 years. Robin Elt Shoes, established in Worcester in 1872, will permanently shut its doors on January 10, 2026. Despite this closure, its other stores in Hereford, Ludlow, Malvern, Leominster, and Totnes will continue operating without changes.
The decision to close the Worcester store was described as “very sad” by managing director Jenny Elt, citing financial viability issues. She expressed sorrow over the family-run business having to make this tough choice, emphasizing that sustaining the store for the future was no longer feasible due to financial constraints.
Worcester City Council acknowledged the challenges faced by city centers, attributing the shift towards online shopping and a focus on leisure and entertainment activities. Collaborating with Worcestershire County Council and Worcester BID, the council has been actively supporting city center traders. Worcester’s distinct shopping scene, blending popular high street brands with unique local businesses, is a model the council is proud to endorse.
Notably, 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. The closures follow a consultation initiated by the disability equality charity earlier in the year, prompted by a projected £1.5 million loss. Scope’s head of retail, Debbie Boylen, lamented the impact on staff and volunteers, emphasizing the role of the shops in generating essential income to assist disabled individuals and their families.
