THE last antique shop in an historic shopping area will close its doors later this month.

Brighton Lanes Antique Centre has been run by Peter and Rebecca Brynin for 20 years.

The decision to shut on January 21was made after Mr Brynin decided to retire.

The 69-year-old has been in the trade for more than half a century.

He said: “Of course I’ll miss it, but it’s time.”

Mr Brynin’s interest in antiques was sparked when he bought two chairs in Brighton for £3 ten shillings when he was 16.

He had only been living in the area for a year after moving from London.

After a quick upholstery job at home, Mr Brynin resold the chairs for £6 and £12 and a business opportunity was realised.

With his brother Bruce, Mr Brynin, traded antiques from his home before opening a shop in St George’s Road, in Kemp Town.

He opened the antique centre in Brighton Square with his wife Rebecca in 1998.

This was at a time when antique shops in the Lanes were still common.

However, the emergence of online shopping and advertising had an effect on the trade and soon the shop was the last of its kind in the area.

Mr Brynin’s daughter Claudia Pandit said she and her sister Livia Brynin thought it was a shame the store was closed.

She said: “As everything has become more modern in the Lanes there’s much less demand for buying antiques.”

The shop has seen a number of famous faces visit over the years, including actress Joan Collins, singer Cliff Richard, and Hercule Poirot star David Suchet - who bought a table for his boat.

The TV show Antiques Road Trip once asked Mr Brynin to be one of their experts, but he refused.

Items to pass through the doors have included a collage by German artist Kurt Schwitters which sold for £100,000 and a French cabinet, dated 1880, which sold for £125,000.

However Mr Brynin is looking forward to retirement and has plans to travel to Australia and New Zealand.

The store’s instagram page will continue as Mrs Pandit is starting an antique charms business.