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‘Iconic’ 150-year-old shoe store may disappear from the excessive road endlessly

Round 450 jobs are sadly in danger, in line with new experiences.

The cobbler has been a strong fixture on our excessive streets for a few years (Picture: Getty)

An iconic British shoe store is at risk of disappearing from our excessive streets endlessly, in line with new experiences. Decreased footfall and the rise of on-line procuring has made it troublesome for some companies to maintain earnings, with an increasing number of once-popular chains closing every year. 

And subsequent on the record may very well be Russell & Bromley. This 150-year-old shoe retailer, identified for its high-quality leather-based footwear and equipment, is anticipated to have its mental property acquired by Subsequent, in line with experiences by The Telegraph. If this occurs, it is going to make it ‘complicated’ to proceed buying and selling. 

Retail large Subsequent can be anticipated to accumulate the model as a part of a joint takeover with Retail Realisation, a liquidation specialist linked to Modella Capital – proprietor of the previous WH Smith excessive road chain.

With Subsequent aquiring these two key components of the enterprise, Russell & Bromley would not be capable to carry that model title, which may make it a wrestle to maintain afloat. 

Retail Realisation will then reportedly deal with the closure of the chain’s 37 shops left, in addition to a fireplace sale of inventory. It is estimated that there are round 450 jobs in danger. 

This is not the primary time that Modella has stepped in to accumulate struggling shops. In 2025, the corporate took over Claire’s Equipment, WH Smith and The Authentic Manufacturing unit Store (TOFS). At the moment, it additionally owns the humanities and crafts retailer Hobbycraft.

Russell & Bromley, which confronted a £9m loss in 2024, had set out a turnaround plan known as ‘Re-Boot’ which was set to final 5 years. Growth to different areas, such because the Center East, was specified by this proposal. 

The chain is at present run by fifth-generation member of the family Andrew Bromley. It was initially based again in 1880 in Sussex, and throughout its legacy, it has launched quite a lot of iconic shoe types to UK customers. 

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Probably the most well-known is the Chester idler, with its distinct fringing and tassel detailing. 

Kate Middleton is a long-time fan of the model, and has ceaselessly been snapped carrying footwear from varied collections. Physician Who actor Billie Piper is the present face of Russell & Bromley – its first celeb marketing campaign face ever, as introduced in 2025. 

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