ONE of Brighton’s longest established shops is closing one of its stores.

Pullingers has been a fixture in the North Laine for more than 30 years and the closure of the Bond Street store marks the end of an era.

Owner Barry Windham said: “It was a tough decision to make but it’s for the right reasons. You just can’t do everything.

“I was running it, which was ok with the staff that were down there but now my youngest daughter is not well so I can’t do it all. Something’s got to give.”

The store in George Street will remain open, a store that has been open for over 100 years, so customers can still make use of Pullingers’ services.

Mr Windham said: “We’re not going completely, we’ve got to keep the flagship shop.”

There will, however, be a slight change to what it offers. The shop will still repair shoes but Mr Windham said he will mainly focus on men’s footwear as the store isn’t big enough for everything.

Mr Windham used to run the shops with his mother but she was taken ill last year and has had to come out of the shop.

“It’s time for a change,” Mr Windham said.

His mother used to do all the buying, but he is more familiar with men’s styles so he will be sticking with what he knows.

Business rates increases have added to the difficulties.

Mr Windham said: “The running costs get dearer all the time, across the board – footwear gets more expensive all the time.”

Pullingers started in 1915 by Victor Pullinger whose son, Jim later took over.

Jim was a friend of Mr Windham’s father, who eventually bought the business.

Mr Windham comes from a family of shoe repairers.

His grandfather was a cobbler and his uncles all began as shoe repairers too.

Offering a range of shoes, shoe repair and key cutting, the store in Bond Street will have served many people due to being in a busy region of the city.