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.
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.