Family-run shop closes after 100 years in Brighton

Dockerills in Church Street is a real Brighton institution, having opened its doors in 1915 in Edward Street.

The shop was started by Walter Dockerill and was passed on to his son, also Walter, before Malcolm Dockerill took over. In recent years, Malcolm’s daughter Karen and her husband Ryan Gayler have taken the reins in the running of the business. Five generations of Dockerills have worked at the shop.

Lifelong Brighton resident and former employee Tom Boswell, 98, worked at Dockerills for 31 years from 1980. He said he enjoyed every day  at the shop and described the team as a “happy family”.

He remembered Ginger the cat who was part of the furniture for 20 years and “nice Christmas dos” at Dyke Golf Club. The closure, he said, is “terrible”.

98-year-old Tom worked at Dockerill's for 31 years (Image: Newsquest) A variety of factors have led to the “tough” decision to close, said Ryan.

He said: “There are many layers to it – changes in the high street, changes to the shopping basket, Covid and issues around parking have all had an impact.

"he profit margin and cost of running the business has become very hard. Slowly we realised the business model was becoming harder and harder to maintain.”

The Dockerill family will retain use of the sprawling cellar below the shop, which was part of the original guesthouse built by the Prince Regent in 1808.

It is rumoured that the cellar eventually joins up to the Royal pavilion and was used by the prince as a corridor to take people into the Pavilion. Ryan hopes to turn the cellar into a museum and to open in January.

The shop was busy during its final day (Image: Newsquest) Though the store will close, its owners have a new business model to keep it afloat amid a changing trading climate.

Dockerills Direct will work with trade clients only from its first-floor office in nearby Regent House and the shop space will be rented out to an “independent” business.

After the doors shut for the final time the team were heading to the nearby William IV pub, frequented by Malcolm “back in the good old days”, for a “swift half” to mark the end of an era.