Worcester’s Robin Elt Shoes shop to close after 153 years

A shop that has stood in the high street for 153 years will close its doors for good in the new year.

Robin Elt Shoes, located at The Shambles, Worcester, opened in 1872 but has been marked for closure on 10 January due to an increase in National Insurance contributions for employers and business rates, said the company.

Managing director Jenny Elt said: “The shop is no longer viable as a store that can continue into the future, unfortunately,” before adding: “We can’t pick money out of thin air.”

A 2025 Budget document from the Treasury said the high street would benefit from “permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure”(RHL).

Ms Elt said: “It’s very difficult for myself, being the family business, it’s very sad to have to come to this decision.”

Customer Liz Evans remembers visiting the store as a child.

“I can remember coming into Worcester with my mother, I’m 72 now, but I can remember coming in when we would always go for shoes,” she said.

“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 said it was “very sorry to hear the news”.

They said: “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.

“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.”

The spokesperson added: “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.”

The remaining ELT stores in Hereford, Ludlow, Malvern, Leominster and Totnes are to remain open.

The government’s Budget document said the high street would benefit from lower rates for RHL, funded by higher rates for the “most expensive properties such as warehouses used by large online retailers”.

It stated the government was “delivering on its commitment to re-balance the business rates system in England” by introducing permanently lower tax rates for RHL properties, worth nearly £900m a year.

Since April, employers pay National Insurance at 15% on most employees’ wages above £5,000. They previously paid 13.8% on salaries above £9,100.

The new rate was frozen until 2027-28 and has since been extended for an additional three years until 2030-31.