August/September 2025
housewareslive.net
NEWS The Kitchen Range in West Wickham announces closure after 34 Years M
uch-loved West Wickham housewares retailer The Kitchen
Range has announced it is closing its retail store after 34 years of trading. The news was shared in an emotional post on the shop’s Instagram account, where the owners business and outlined plans for the future of the site at 51 High Street. The post read: “After 34
years of The Kitchen Range, we have made the very hard decision to close the doors on the retail side of our business. We will miss our wonderful customers, reps, delivery drivers and of course our
staff, and would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support of our lovely shop over the last three decades.” Having survived economic crashes, a global pandemic and years of high street challenges, the owners say the time has come to take the business in a different direction.
New life for a familiar location While the retail store will be closing, 51 High Street won’t be going quiet for long. According to the Instagram announcement, the building will soon reopen with a fresh dual-purpose offering. • Downstairs, The Kitchen Range Cookery School will relocate and expand, offering more space and opportunities for classes and events.
• At the front, Le Bicycle will make its return to West Wickham, providing bicycle servicing, repairs and sales. The transition marks the end of an era for The Kitchen Range’s
retail shop – but also the beginning of a new chapter in the building’s long-standing presence on the high street.
BHETA launches new website with enhanced
B
‘Mr Peppercorn’ has passed away
P
eppercorn Cookware has shared the sad news that Christopher Vaughan Roberts, affectionately known to many as Mr Peppercorn, passed away peacefully on August
4, surrounded by his close family at the age of 82. Chris and his wife, Gloria, opened Peppercorn Cookware in 1987, though, as the family fondly recalls, it was an idea he initially resisted. Once the doors opened, however, there was no keeping him away. For the next 38 years, Chris could be found behind the counter six days a week, greeting customers with warmth and wit. He thrived on the social side of the business, chatting with both tourists and locals, though he was famous for steering clear of the dusting and cleaning. The much-loved shop will now pass to his two sons, Richard and Nicholas, who are determined to carry on the family legacy for years to come. “We know many of you in the industry will have known and met Chris over the last 38 years,” the Peppercorn team told Housewares Magazine. “Whether it was at trade shows, in the shop, on jolly trips around Europe, or even during the occasional chase for an unpaid invoice, he left a lasting impression. On behalf of Chris, and ourselves, Gloria, Richard, and Nicholas, we wa nt to thank you for the kind messages and support during this
HETA has launched its new website
www.bheta.co.uk
to incorporate a host of additional online member to support its members with market intelligence, retailer networking and Government lobbying on key issues in the home, garden, housewares, and small domestic electricals sectors, BHETA is now making a wealth of information online via a member portal, alongside continuing in-person support from its sector managers. The new member portal part of the enhanced website includes reports, webinar slide decks, documents, and event videos from all BHETA or partner events over the last two years. This is in addition to real time member updates and upcoming events information via the portal. Marketing Director, Steve Richardson, commented: “This new
BHETA website is a game-changer in terms of unique, up to the minute information and insight, now available to members at their convenience. BHETA’s sector managers continue to provide members with all kinds of one-to-one assistance including strategic growth plans, domestic and international business development, product launch plans, change implementation, and general management. “Members can watch our pre-recorded webinars from retailers including Dobbies, B&Q, Faire, Marks & Spencer, Wayfair, eBay and Walmart. Or watch videos explaining topical subjects like, “EPR RAM Assessment”, “Mastering Q4 on Amazon”, “Turning content into Commerce with TikTok Shop”, “Building a Sustainability Strategy” and many more.”
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