Badlad

Administrator

Staff member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #1

This morning I was trying to think of all the caving retailers which had closed down in the last 30 years or so.

Hitch n Hike
Cave and Crag
Bat Products
Settle Water Sports
Bernies

All came to mind straight away.  Can anyone remind me of others?
Thanks

 

paul

Moderator

• Feb 18, 2020

• #2

Dudley's "Dragon" in Abercraf.

 

paul

Moderator

• Feb 18, 2020

• #3

It might be worth updating the Wiki: https://ukcaving.com/wiki/index.php/Shops

 

Addy

Member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #4

Rocksport - used to be above the bus station in Wells - Chris Bradshaw...

 

Pete K

Well-known member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #5

Caving Supplies is now up for sale too. I don't expect it will remain a caving shop.

 

Alex

Well-known member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #6

I have updated the Bernies entry. I will leave the other areas to cavers who live in those areas.

Added an important missing one too!

 

P

PaulW

Member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #7

caveclimb

 

royfellows

Well-known member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #8

Pete K said:

Caving Supplies is now up for sale too. I don't expect it will remain a caving shop.

Click to expand...

Oh no!
Mind Phil must be at retiring age by now. Hopefully someone will take it on as a business.

 

shotlighter

Active member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #9

Jo Royals in Hanley - still have a 25ft ladder and Ecrin helmet from there.

 

I

Ian Ball

Well-known member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #10

Does Daleswear count?

 

M

mikem

Well-known member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #11

TBF several of them have retired, or passed away.

I would include Daleswear; Beaver (diving) still produce a basic caving suit & kneepads, but you rarely see them:
http://www.beaversports.co.uk/Catalogue/Category/156?cat=oversuits

Bernies is now run by ISCA Outdoors from Devon: https://www.berniescaveshop.co.uk/

Not quite sure when this was last updated, but quite some time ago (& do Field & Trek really qualify?):
http://www.arbarama.com/cave/speleo/suppliers.html

Rocksport is nearer 40 years ago. Jo Royale never did much, but is still going in Buxton.

Related threads: https://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=2994.0

& https://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=2996.0
[it would appear Baines was gone by 1979: http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/baines.html ]

 

yrammy

Active member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #12

The Bivouac Matlock Bath

 

M

mikem

Well-known member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #13

Which features in a similar thread:
https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/gear/remembering_good_climbing_shops_that_closed-618129

A lot of canoe / kayak shops have gone the same way, but so have many small high street retailers.

 

B

Benfool

Active member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #14

Alex, I'm not sure if Tony would be happy to be described as "Semi Active"!

B

 

C

Chocolate fireguard

Active member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #15

In the 90s there was one in Settle.
Going into the town from the E, off the main street to the right, about 100m before the market square. Perhaps 30m along that street on the left.
I think it was a converted house.

 

Alex

Well-known member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #16

Alex, I'm not sure if Tony would be happy to be described as "Semi Active"!

Click to expand...

That was how he described his activity to me at a Hidden earth, but I guess his activity is irrelevant to the info anyway.

 

M

mikem

Well-known member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #17

Chocolate fireguard said:

In the 90s there was one in Settle.

Click to expand...

Cave & Crag (in first thread I linked to already)

 

Pitlamp

Well-known member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #18

Some readers will remember Brendan Brew's caving shop in Ingleton; he had some gear of his own brand "Brock".

Incidentally, before Inglesport was where it is now, it used to be a right good fish and chip shop!

 

mrodoc

Well-known member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #19

Rocksport was run by Chris Bradshaw and Bruce Bedford. I remember it well.

 

andys

Well-known member

• Feb 18, 2020

• #20

mikem said:

Chocolate fireguard said:

In the 90s there was one in Settle.

Click to expand...

Cave & Crag (in first thread I linked to already)

Click to expand...

I seem to think Cave and Crag moved a few times - I've a memory of them being down by the Post Office at some stage - as well as where the "vintage/antiques" shop is now, not far from the Naked Man.