Customers 'very sad' as long-running Bristol shop announces closure after 65 years 

A family-run Bristol shop which is an Aladdin's cave of fabrics is set to close after 65 years. 

The Nylon Shop owner Janet Billington has made the 'sad’ decision to shut the treasure trove of fabrics following the death of a long-term employee.  

Upholsterer Alan Stenning died from cancer in August after working in the shop on Two Mile Hill Road in Kingswood for 20 years, leaving Janet 'heartbroken'.             

“He was a lovely person and we miss him very, very much. We sadly took the decision as soon as he passed to retire,” says Janet, 74, who owns the shop with her husband Brian. 

“We feel we don’t want to do it anymore, we haven’t got our heart in it quite so much. It will be sad as we have got to know all the customers.”     

Janet took over The Nylon Shop from her mother-in-law Joan, who opened it in 1959 and worked there into her 80s until her death in 2011.    

The shop also sells sewing supplies and cut-to-size memory foam, with Janet planning to run a closing down sale after Christmas.    

“It’s the end of an era, we’re one of the longest running shops and people absolutely adore the place,” she adds.     

“It will be sadly missed but now we have got to think of ourselves and Alan would be the first to agree with that.”     

The shop previously had another branch on Grosvenor Road in St Paul’s, which Joan closed after the 1980 riot, running another branch in Bedminster for a short time. 

Janet is helped in the shop one day a week by her daughter Sarah, who says she is “devastated” by the closure.     

“I’ve known it since I was born and would’ve loved to have been in a position to take it on as it’s been in the family all this time. 

“People love the shop, the good quality and prices. It’s good colour therapy, people come in down and miserable but come out happy.”  

Regular customer of 30 years Jane Uren, from Kingswood, says she is “very sad” that it is closing.      

“It’s so nice to come up and have a browse. It’s really good for the foam and the only place you can get what you want.”        

“My husband will be pleased as I’ll not be spending so much money!” she jokes.  

The Nylon Shop is set to close within the next 12 months, with Janet planning to let the premises out to another business following its closure.