Just Leather closes after over four decades in Worcester

Nigel Hartwright has run Just Leather since the early 1980s with his wife, Jennie, but has decided to step back from full-time work.

His shop is situated in the Hopmarket courtyard near St Nicholas Street and closed on Saturday, March 2.

The business sells handmade leather goods using locally sourced leather, with all of the products handcrafted.

"I used to do a lot of steam rallies through the summer and I needed a workshop and retail premises to open up the business," said Mr Hartwright.

"I had a shop unit in the Hopmarket courtyard, which I believe I was the first one of the shops to get some keys to open up.

"I opened in about 1982 - the hairdresser that is next door moved in four months after me said it is about 42/43 years."

The shop, which had been open since the early 1980s, closed on March 2 (Image: Belinda Hackney)

Mr Hartwright has handcrafted a multitude of products that range from handbags, purses, wallets, overnight bags, phone pouches, hats, belts and more.

He said he has done "everything and anything in leather", even the "odd sort of things that people want making".

But while the shop has closed, Mr Hartwright is not planning to stop working entirely.

"Although I am closing the shop I won't stop working," he said.

"I will do more outdoor events. I'll have a stall at the Upton Folk Festival which is on May day weekend.

"I'll still be running the business part-time where I will take in repairs.

"Magic Stitch Tailors will help me take in repairs - I'll pick them up off them and customers will pick them up from myself.

"It's going to be nice to not be in the shop five days a week."

Mr Hartwright plans to keep on working from home as long as he can.

While the shop is closing, Mr Hartwright plans to continue working part-time from home for as long as he can (Image: Newsquest)

"People come in asking where are they going to go to get things repaired," he said.

"Other local repair shops send people to me so I will continue to do repairs from home with the help of Magic Stitch."

Bill Simpson, chairman of the Hopmarket charity, said: "Nigel has been in the number 15 unit on Hopmarket courtyard for about 40 years with his wife Jennie.

"They're the longest-serving tenants in the facility - he'll be a loss.

"He handed in his notice as of February this year and I believe Just Leather is the oldest-standing business in Hopmarket."