Family shop's last day after more than 100 years

Shop director Ryan Gayler said there were "mixed emotions"

A family business is to close the doors of its shop for the final time after more than 100 years in Brighton.

Hardware store Dockerills has been on North Laine since the 1970s, and began in Edward Street in 1915.

Five generations of the family have worked in the shop, which will shut at 17:00 BST on Friday.

Ryan Gayler, who is one of the shop's directors, said: "Today [we'll] hopefully try and keep a bit of a stiff upper lip. Sadness will be there, but we will look back positively and forward positively."

On the shop's final morning, Mr Gayler said there were "mixed emotions".

He said: "We helped the community, I think most importantly, and it's something we will certainly look back on historically.

"And we are going to move forward with a slightly different business model, but those elements will still stay within the family."

Dockerills Direct is being launched off the back of the shop's closure to continue trading with account customers.

The owners said the pandemic, rising overhead costs and falling trade had prompted them to decide to shut their doors.

When the closure was announced in June there was an outpouring of sadness from customers, including former Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas.

She said she was "genuinely gutted" by the news.

"Dockerills is part of the fabric of Brighton. It's hard to imagine them gone," she said.

The business is planning to rent out the unit and says a tenant has already been lined up.