Popular antiques shop set to close

Buy photos » Adrian Whiteside, who runs SW Antiques, has decided to close his Newlands showroom after 25 years. (s)

A WELL-known Pershore antiques store has decided to close its doors after a quarter of a century in its Newlands showroom.

SW Antiques will shut when its lease expires at the end of March but Adrian Whiteside, the company's proprietor, said it was not an easy decision to make.

"After much family discussion and deliberation, we have decided not to renew it," he said.

"It marks the end of an era for all of us.

"We have met some fantastic people from the local area and from all over the country, many of whom have become both loyal customers and good friends.

"However, we must look forward and move with the times and personally, it means that I can concentrate on our family online retail business and spend more time with my family."

SW Antiques was founded in 1978 in Tewkesbury by Adrian’s parents, Richard and Sylvia.

They soon moved to Broad Street in Pershore and then to Newlands where the business has gone from strength to strength, with customers travelling from all over the UK to buy their antique furniture.

"On behalf of all of the Whiteside family, I would like to thank all of our customers for making SW Antiques such a successful and enjoyable business to be involved in," Mr Whiteside added.

The company now has a big sale on to clear the rest of its stock.