Some sad/bad news to share, as I just found out yesterday that the Ian Allan shop near Waterloo is closing. I haven't been there for months given the ongoing problems with the Wuhan Flu in London, but as I had to be in the city the other day so I stopped by just to have a look around. Sadly when I arrived I saw in the store window signs about 50-75% discounts and closing down. I have been visiting this shop - the last real train/model shop left in London - for many years now (especially after Motor Books in Leicester Square closed), and during that time got to know some of the staff. Unfortunately the family that owns Ian Allen have effectively thrown them all out so they can cash in on the property. Another sad day for the hobby as Ian Allen goes under. The staff had made a number of offers to the family to keep the business afloat, including putting money back into the business. However, the family members now in charge (apparently the grandkids) have absolutely no interest in keeping a going concern going and just want to cash out so they can live their lavish lifestyle. If true, sad indeed...

As Ian Allen was offering discounts, I did manage to pick up quite a few military books and even a Farish Pannier. There are still some good items left but a lot of the inventory has gone. FYI, for anyone after Farish LNER teak coaches they have 7-8 of them left....and at 10 quid each that is a good deal. They also had a few N-locos left.

The store will trade until 31 Oct and then that will be that. Our hobby is dying off so do what you can to support local shops.

It is sad what has happened to the once mighty IA organisation.  If you check out their website you will see that the "owners" have divested from most of the business - publishing, travel, cars etc.  Who knows, may be given what is going on this may prove to be a wise decision on their part.  Still, always a shame to see an iconic brand go.

Kind regards

Paddy

Quote from: Paddy on October 24, 2020, 08:19:27 PM
It is sad what has happened to the once mighty IA organisation.  If you check out their website you will see that the "owners" have divested from most of the business - publishing, travel, cars etc.  Who knows, may be given what is going on this may prove to be a wise decision on their part.  Still, always a shame to see an iconic brand go.

Kind regards

Paddy

Or maybe they will end up with an empty property they cant sell and still have to pay rates etc on it. If working from home has been deemed a success by large companies in the City there could be a lot of vacant properties as they cut overheads and working from home becomes a way of life for some.

Geoff

We lost our IA in Birmingham last year. A sad loss as I bought my first N gauge loco (a black 5) there.

There's a gentle article reporting this in The Sunday Times today, with over 250 comments, mostly warm and nostalgic about steam (for some reason!). She says she used to have to pick up her Father's Railway Modeller on the way home from school. (She hid it in her Vogue )

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/trainspotters-last-refuge-ian-allan-book-model-shop-puffs-towards-its-waterloo-sunset-j3t5cwpd6

It's a pay site, though.

I went there on Saturday for a last visit. Was sad to see the shop so empty. I have been going there for about 30 years and will miss the shop and it's helpful and polite staff.

Only ever managed to go there once, and then I turned up not long before closing time. Did manage to purchase my first British outline N gauge locos and the staff were quite happy to get out the test track and make sure they worked.

Quote from: Buffin on October 25, 2020, 02:51:27 PM
There's a gentle article reporting this in The Sunday Times today ...

It's a pay site, though.

If the first couple of free-to-read paragraphs are anything to go by, I'm not sure I've missed much. Describing Ian Allen as "the anorak's anorak" doesn't really bode well for the rest of the article, and I'm sure some current businesses might object to the store being named "... the last specialist transport shop in the country ..."

"The trainspotter's last refuge" description doesn't sit too well either. It all reads like one long cliché, and that's just the lede.

In my humble opinion, of course.

Quote from: Malc on October 25, 2020, 10:28:32 AM
We lost our IA in Birmingham last year. A sad loss as I bought my first N gauge loco (a black 5) there.

On another forum I frequent it was mentioned that one of the previous employees of IA in Birmingham has opened a new shop in similar vein.

https://www.tornadobookshop.co.uk/

@JonMann Yes, I spotted the Tornado Bookshop some time ago, but haven't visited because of the restrictions. I am high risk, so won't be going into town for a while. I had a look at their Ebay shop and it seems to be as the name suggests, only books.

Quote from: Malc on October 27, 2020, 08:58:02 AM
@JonMann Yes, I spotted the Tornado Bookshop some time ago, but haven't visited because of the restrictions. I am high risk, so won't be going into town for a while. I had a look at their Ebay shop and it seems to be as the name suggests, only books.

Yes think the ebay shop is just selling books, but if you look at the website and watch/click through images, they do sell model kits and other modelling supplies (scenic and paints), but no railway stuff by the look of it.