Pet shop owners selling up after nearly 30 years

"It's time for some young people to take over - I've run out of ideas" - that's the verdict of Michael Barrett, joint owner of pet supplies shop Roxfords. Michael and his wife Sarah are selling the store after nearly three decades on Gloucester Road. They bought the premises after Sarah was unable to find a job.

"We were looking for a business for Sarah to run and decided on here because it had a good level of footfall", says Michael.

"We didn't have any money but fortunately the bank was willing to give us a loan".

Ill-health has now forced Sarah to reduce her involvement at Roxfords, while putting more pressure on Michael, who is now 79. The couple live in Tewkesbury, meaning a 100-mile round trip to work.

Roxfords address at 155 Gloucester Road has been a pet supplies shop since st least 1950, according to local history website The Gloucester Road Story. Originally known as Oxford Food Stores, it became known as Roxfords around 1970.

Michael says the biggest change in the business in his time came with the pandemic.

"When Covid came along everyone bought a puppy or dog so that meant selling a lot more food and toys.

"But there's no interest in small animals any more. No-one wants hamsters, rabbits or guinea pigs. When children become teenagers they just can't be bothered."

But Michael won't be putting his feet up just yet. Once the business is sold - the couple own it as a freehold - he's thinking of doing some voluntary work. Perhaps a little closer to home.