New owner takes over Star Cobblers in Barnard Castle

Star Cobblers, which has been established in Barnard Castle for more than 50 years, is now run by proud owner Jamie Siddle.

Jamie took over the reins on January 30, following the retirement of previous owner Adrian Andrews after 23 years in the trade.

The 41-year-old has become the fourth owner of the much-loved shop, which has been part of the town for generations.

Adrian previously said he would only retire once he found someone with the passion and commitment to continue the business’s legacy.

Adrian Andrews retired after 22 years at Star Cobblers in Barnard Castle. (Image: TRACY KIDD)

That person turned out to be Jamie, whose journey into cobbling began entirely “by chance”.

Jamie said: “It’s funny how it all came about.

“I popped in one day to get some keys cut and got chatting to Adrian about his job. As he was explaining what he did, I realised I could actually see myself doing it.

“My wife said she could imagine me being a cobbler, so not long after that, I started working here as an apprentice last year.”

For the past year, Jamie has trained closely alongside Adrian, learning the tricks of the trade and techniques which have been passed down through the business for generations.

Cobbler Adrian Andrews at work. (Image: TRACY KIDD)

The business has been a staple in the town for generations. (Image: TRACY KIDD)

The 41-year-old said: “I worked with Adrian every day, learning the trade properly, and I just fell in love with it.

“When Adrian decided to hang up his boots, I wanted to continue this business’s history. It’s amazing to know that I’m now part of this incredible business, which has been a staple in the town for such a long time.”

Although Jamie is now the owner, Adrian has not gone far, as he continues to work part-time due to high demand.

As the only cobblers in town, the shop has been vital for shoe repairs, zip replacements, stitching and patchwork, handbag repairs, key-cutting, knives, shears, and more.

Star Cobblers in Barnard Castle. (Image: TRACY KIDD)

Adrian previously emphasised the importance of the sustainability of cobblers, rather than buying a new pair of shoes when they break, or buying rubber shoes which are not easily repaired.

The business has also built a reputation well beyond County Durham.

Jamie said: “We get repairs sent in from all over.

“We’ve had shoes come from the Isle of Bute, the Isle of Man, and as far away as France. We also regularly get work from Italy and Germany.”

Star Cobblers in Barnard Castle has been serving the community for 50 years. (Image: TRACY KIDD)

Some of the items that come through the door carry decades of history.

He said: “Recently, we worked on a pair of Second World War army boots from 1945.

“I love to hear the backstory and really understand what the customer wants and where the items come from.

“Doing a good job and seeing the customer happy when they collect it is incredibly satisfying. Every day you learn something new in this job.”

Looking ahead, Jamie says his focus is on maintaining the high quality and service the shop is known for, while potentially making small improvements in the future.

Jamie said: “For now, I want to keep everything the same because people are happy with the service. In the future, I’d like to modernise parts of the shop and improve the infrastructure, but we want to stay exactly where we are.

“I’m very proud to be part of this town, it has such a strong sense of community, and we’ve got some really loyal customers.

“We’re very grateful for all the support and we will continue to serve you all in the same way for many, many years to come!”