Goldings of Bedford to close after 152 years in business

  • Anglia
The business is one of the oldest in the Anglia region Credit: ITV Anglia

Goldings of Bedford has announced its to close its doors after 152 years in business.

The family-run store said that online competition and multi-national firms have made it “impossible to continue”.

In a post on Facebook, the company said that they have been “struggling for a while now” and called the footfall on the high street “pretty much non-existent”.

The business first opened in 1867 and survived the Boer, First and Second World Wars plus the Great Depression.

It was also the first commercial premises in Bedford to have gas central heating and originally had its own forge for metalwork.

With 35,000 different products in stock, it earned a reputation for variety and customer service.

The store celebrated its 150th anniversary in October 2017 when business was reportedly still going strong.

This decision they say has not been easy, but urged customers to visit and help an "iconic Bedford business sail off into the sunset".

  • Watch our report covering its 150th birthday here