Oldest UK Sex Shop

Gwenap adult store in Princes Avenue, west Hull, is instantly recognisable with its black and white facade and cheeky messages.

In fact, the cherished shop was one of the first in the country to sell sexy underwear when it opened in the 1930s.

But after running the store for more than 20 years, owner Jim Starkey has decided to call it a day and is looking for someone with fresh ideas to takeover.

Ideally, he wants it to remain an adult store.
Starkey said: I have had the shop for 22 years and took it on as a bit of a hobby. I would like someone to take over who can do something a little bit different.

For a long while, the store just sold sexy underwear but, about 10 years ago, Starkey introduced sex toys.

He said: I believe this is the oldest sex shop in the country. It started selling sexy underwear in the 1930s. You could say it was pioneering.

Update: Still Up for Sale

27th June 2009. See article from thisishullandeastriding.co.uk

Jim Starkey said: We've had several people interested in taking over the business and one couple were very interested in carrying it on but they couldn't get the money together.

If a buyer can't be found soon, Gwenap may have to close. What we will probably do is use the name for a website but that's not ideal. The idea of this has upset many local people who regard it as part of the establishment.

Our last lifeline is to find an investor who would like to take Gwenap and capitalise on its long history by taking it into the 'boutique sexy shop' market and possibly invest in a chain of shops under the Gwenap name.

The for sale signs have been taken down from Hull's most iconic adult store, after the owner was persuaded to keep it open.

Public reaction to the news of the possible closure of Gwenap adult store in Princes Avenue, west Hull, triggered a change of heart in Jim Starkey, who has run the store for 22 years.

Gwenap is instantly recognisable with its black and white facade and cheeky messages.

But after running the store for more than 20 years, Starkey announced in June he was calling it a day and looking for someone with fresh ideas to take over. Six months later, no one had come forward with a suitable proposal. But Starkey has decided to keep the shop going.

The new owners of GWENAP in Hull, said to be the oldest sex shop in Britain, are planning to have the shop fully re-opened by October 2010.

GWENAP shop, based on the junction of Princes Avenue and Springbank Kingston up Hull is in many ways part of our heritage and has been serving its customers since 1902. The shops exterior has changed little over its 100 year history although in 1947 you would have seen its then owner busy in the shop window with her sewing machine.

Times have changed and the business is now in the hands of Cheryl Watson and her business partners. Cheryl wants to keep its heritage and is planning a thoughtful renovation of the interior of the shop and a new website. The business has had a slight change of direction both in terms of its image and the naughty but nice adult toys it has for sale.

Here is to the next 100 years of GWENAP.