Royal Brierley shop to close its doors

The Royal Brierley Crystal shop based in Dudley is closing - signalling the end of the area's links with the world-famous brand.

The shop, next to the Black Country Living Museum in Tipton Road, will shut before the end of June. Dartington Crystal Ltd took over the Royal Brierley Crystal shop in 2005.

It says there has been a change of landlord and the premises are no longer available for lease.

Marketing director, Richard Halliday, said the company had been seeking alternative sites including taking over the former Stuart Crystal shop at the Red House Glass Cone in Wordsley but nothing had been decided.

He said: "The name is continuing and we will carry on marketing Royal Brierley products nationally.

"There is a lot of interest and passion for the name in the Black Country so it makes a lot of sense to try and find somewhere in the area to have representation.

"The shop closure came about fairly quickly so we are just at the stage where we are putting feelers out about alternative sites.

"We are not desperate to have another shop within weeks of the old one closing but if the right site and right opportunity came along we would consider it."

Three members of staff will lose their jobs including shop manager Royston Hixon, 48, who has worked there for eight years.

He said: "It's a great shame because it is our heritage which we are losing.

"It is difficult to see where we would fit in the High Street because we are a destination shop rather than somewhere people visit to browse."

The shop houses the largest collection of Royal Brierley crystal in the UK.

Several thousand pieces of glassware are being sold at up to 70 per cent off. Glass tumblers which were £30 are now selling at £5 and rose bowls are half price at £60.