The British fashion store that made teddy boys and mods closed down after 115 years in business.
The company was first established in 1916 (Image: Jasmine Siddon/Leicester Mercury)
A UK high street store is to close in just days after welcoming customers for 115 years.
The iconic Irish clothing company based in Loughborough previously announced that its Church Gate store would close in June 2025 after concluding there was “no way forward” for the store. However, it continued to operate for the next nine months while awaiting the acquisition of the building by new leaseholders.
Read more: UK family-run high street chain to close beloved shoe store after 40 years
Read more: Fashion retailer to close its last UK store – ‘all stock must be gone’
It has not been explained why the store is closing; however, last year, owners said external factors were at play, reports Leicestershire Live.
The store announced last July that it would continue to trade under existing sales terms as it worked through stock from both its Loughborough and Leicester stores, which closed in 2018.
The Brown family, who founded the company, agreed to give the assets of its former Leicester branch to coffee chain Caffè Nero.
The third-generation family business, founded by Joseph Brown in 1910, had various branches in Leicester, including Humberstone Gate, The Shires and High Street, before adding the Loughborough store to its network.
Church Gate branch will close on 31st March (Image: Jasmine Siddon/Leicester Mercury)
Joseph Brown handed the business over to his son, John Brown, who took it further and passed it on to his son, Tom Brown, the current owner.
The brand found tremendous success in the 1950s as a store of teddy boy suits; in the ’60s, it catered to local mods and then became the city’s first retailer to sell pre-washed and stonewashed jeans.
The store was also known for hosting many brands, such as Timberland, Dr. Martens, Joules, Seasalt, and Agle.
Now, the owners have confirmed the exact date of closure.
In a statement, he said: “We have now prepared the shop for our final few days of trading.
“The Irish Clothing Company in Loughborough will close its doors for the last time on Tuesday, March 31, marking the end of an era after almost 115 years of being a significant part of Leicester’s history.”
“We are now clearing out old trousers, jeans, and all POS, posters, and brand memorabilia, as well as the last remaining clothing and accessories we have.”
Various customers shared their disappointment over the news, with one person describing it as “the end of an era.”
Another wrote: “This is really upsetting. The Leicester I knew and loved, who I grew up with and who my parents grew up with, is gone! There’s hardly anything left now.”
