The owner of one of Keswick’s longest-running and best-loved shops is calling it a day.
Youdale’s, on Main Street, has been a fixture in the town for more than 60 years, selling newspapers, tobacco, and fishing tackle.
Now, at the age of 66, Robert Youdale has decided to retire.
“I’ve been doing this since the 1980s, and the time has come to move on,” he said. “It’ll be a real wrench, because I’ll miss all my loyal customers.
“The one thing I won’t miss is getting up at five o’clock every morning to open up – although after all these years I’ve become conditioned to waking up before first light, so I doubt I’ll be lying in!”
The shop was established in 1959 by Robert’s father, Peter. And initially, Robert had no plans to join the family business.
“I’m a joiner by trade, and I only ever used to help out occasionally,” he said. “But over the years it became a full-time occupation.”
Robert is a huge angling enthusiast – he is regarded as one of the best match fishermen in the north of England – and he says he is looking forward to spending his much-deserved retirement down by the river.
But while he will be leaving the shop at the end of the year, he also hopes it won’t be the end of it as a going concern.
“I’d be delighted if someone came along and said they wanted to take on the lease, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
