Guildford’s Upmarket Shoe Shop to Close – Staff Face Redundancy

Published on: 28 Jan, 2026
Updated on: 29 Jan, 2026

Russell & Bromley: closing down after 90 years in Guildford.

By Martin Giles and David Rose

The Guildford branch of shoe shop Russell & Bromley, believed to have been in the town since the 1930s, is closing down. It is understood that the team of Guildford staff, thought to number about 12, are expecting to cease trading this week or next.

Staff have not yet been given details of any redundancy package and in the meantime, all stock is being sold with a 20 per cent discount.

The iconic 150-year-old business, which originated in Eastbourne in 1880, went into administration earlier this month and and has now been bought by Next, reportedly for a knockdown price of £2.5 million, plus £1.3 million for all the stock held in 36 branches, nine concessions and any warehouses.

Only three shops are to be retained under the deal – Chelsea, Mayfair and Bluewater. As well as Guildford, stores in locations such as Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle and Bath are now facing closure.

Russell & Bromley chief executive Andrew Bromley said: “Following a strategic review with external advisers, we have taken the difficult decision to sell the Russell & Bromley brand. This is the best route to secure the future for the brand and we would like to thank our staff, suppliers, partners and customers for their support.”

Will Wright, the UK chief executive of Interpath, which is acting as administrator to Russell & Bromley, said the 33 stores and nine concessions not included in the deal would remain open and continue to trade while the joint administrators continue to assess options for them.”

Today (January 28) shoppers spoken too were disappointed but resigned by news of the closure. One said: “I don’t usually shop here but it’s sad to see any High Street shop close, especially one that has been her for so long.” Another agreed it was just another sign of the evolution occuring on High Streets all oner the UK. She said: “I am older, so I like traditional shopping but most people shop online now, so change is inevitable.”

The new R M Williams store, currently being refitted. Ben Darnton

And as one shoe shop is set to leave, another arrives. R M Williams, an Australian shoe business, specialising in outdoor footwear, is setting up in premises, currently being refitted, lower down the High Street, on the corner of Chapel Street, formerly occupied by outfitters Jack Wills.

David Rose writes, a little bit of history with a mystery…

Russell & Bromley’s Guildford shoe shop at 84 High Street, has been there since at least 1935, according to a copy I have of that year’s Lasham’s Directory of Guildford.

Back then, when the street numbering was different, it was number 119 High Street.

The golden boot hanging above Russell & Bromley’s shop in Guildford.

The shop has had for many years, it seems, a distinctive feature – a golden boot that hangs above it.

Looking again at that Lasham’s directory, at number 116 (a couple of shops down from Russell & Bromley) was another shoe shop – Betser’s Golden Boot Stores.

And in Kelly’s Directories of Guildford & Godalming going back to 1938 through to 1974, the 1959 edition shows 116  listed as Philips Character Shoes Limited.

I wonder if the hanging golden boot had once been about the Betser’s Golden Boot Stores? And when it changed hands sometime around 1950 its seems perhaps the golden boot was acquired by Russell & Bromley who put it above its shop?

Back to the Lasham’s directory of 1935 and also listed with Russell & Bromley at the then 119 High Street were two firms of solicitors – N Cockshutt and Guy Pritchett, and chartered accountant V G Byron Brown. I am assuming these had offices above the shop.

Matchbox from Dronfield’s Club, 86 High Street, Guildford.

The 1959 edition of Kelly’s also lists at 119, the Tunsgate Club – again presumably upstairs.

Then, following the renumbering with Russell & Bromley as number 84, the Tunsgate Club becomes number 86.

However, the club was also called Dronfields Club, which seems to be better remembered by people who went there in the 1960s.

As was common back then, clubs, pubs and restaurants had matchboxes they gave to customers and on which their details were on the label. A nice bit of free advertising and promotion.

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