At Peter Scott Shoes, it’s not just the stock that boast wedges – the building is one too.
Britain’s smallest shoe shop has been squeezing in customers for 25 years despite being a tight fit – at just 3ft (0.91m) wide.
The shop is so tiny – the equivalent of three size 11 shoes at its tightest end – that customers can touch both walls, making it one of the narrowest retail outlets of any kind in Britain.
The 169-year-old building at Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, used to be a booking office on the platform of the former railway station where trains ran between 1855-1954.
Following the line’s closure, it became a number of stores including a funeral director, bank, auctioneers and a jewellers until it opened as a shoe shop in 1999.
Peter Scott Shoes in Lincolnshire has been squeezing in customers for 25 years
Oliver Salter, 31, has owned the wedge-shaped building for the last three of its 169-year history
The shop is so tiny that customers can touch both walls, making it one of the narrowest retail outlets of any kind in Britain
Because of limited space, he can only store one pair per size in the shop, with the rest of his stock kept in a neighbouring building
At its narrowest end the shop is just 3ft (0.91m) wide – the equivalent of three size 11 shoes
Current owner Oliver Salter, 31, has owned the historic store for the last three years after buying it in September 2021.
Because of limited space, he can only store one pair per size in the shop, with the rest of his stock kept in a neighbouring building. At the narrowest part of the shop – known locally as the Woodhall Wedge – customers have to view the displays in single file.
Oliver, of Stixwould, Lincolnshire, said: ‘We were attracted to its quirkiness mainly – it is just so unique.
‘My partner and I took it over three years ago thinking we might rent it out but the current owner who was retiring wanted it to remain a shoe shop.
‘So we sat down and looked at the numbers and thought we could do this and I wanted a change from selling agricultural machinery.
‘It’s pretty much the shape of a cheese wedge.
‘It’s quite unusual to have a shop where you can put your hands on both the front and back walls.’
Oliver reckons the capacity of the shop would probably be around 20 people -although they wouldn’t be able to move and be shoulder to shoulder.
The former agricultural machinery salesman bought the store with his partner in 2021 as they were ‘attracted to its quirkiness’
Oliver reckons the capacity of the shop would probably be around 20 people -although they wouldn’t be able to move and be shoulder to shoulder
Because of its wedge shape, the other end of the shop is a comparatively spacious nine feet deep (2.74m). Oliver is seen halfway down the building
Oliver said that while things have changed under his and his partner’s ownership, they haven’t meddled too much as it already ‘did well’ under its previous owners
His four semi-retired staff members only work a three-hour morning or afternoon shift as there’s no space for staff facilities on site.
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‘By knowing representatives of various companies in the industry we’re confident to say that we are the smallest shoe shop in Britain’, he added.
‘There may be smaller shops in general out there but I can’t imagine many as are narrow as this either.’
Woodhall Spa station was on a small branch line between Kirkstead and Horncastle.
In its heyday, the town was a well-known inland resort and people travelled from far and wide by train to sample the spa waters, helped by a daily service between King’s Cross and Horncastle which was introduced in 1898.
The booking office had been added to the station a decade earlier, as part of an extension programme which also included a new platform canopy, waiting room and signal box.
Where the rail line once ran behind the building now stands a car park.
The 30ft (9m) long building’s wedge shape means that while it is just three feet deep at its narrowest, the other end of the shop is a comparatively spacious nine feet deep (2.74m).
Oliver added: ‘We’ve looked into the history of the place and we think the widest part of the wedge is where the booking office would have been for the old railway station.
‘The line passed by it diagonally, hence the wedge shape. It’s a historic building and really unique.
‘People come and take photos of the place and if you get a coachload of visitors, the store can fill up pretty quick.
‘We stock everything really from shoes, trainers, slippers and sandals – you have to move with the fashions too.
The four semi-retired staff members only work a three-hour morning or afternoon shift as there’s no space for staff facilities on site
The owner said it is important he and his partner keep on top of trends as ‘you need to know what to put out when there’s not loads of space’
The building at Woodhall Spa used to be a booking office on the platform of the former railway station but following the line’s closure in 1954, it became a number of stores including a funeral director, bank, auctioneers and a jewellers. It is seen in 1900 as an estate agent
‘A lot of women seem to like smart, stylish and comfy trainers these days over traditional high-heels, so you need to know what to put out when there’s not loads of space.
‘We’ve changed things a little bit but not too much as the shop did well beforehand under its previous owner.
‘We’ve added new lines and brands along the way but still try and stick to our core customers, while trying to entice some others.’
Britain’s smallest shop is believed to be The Phone Box in Teignmouth, Devon. The shop sells and repairs phones, laptops and other electrical items and is a snug 16.4ft (5m) long and 4.6ft (1.4m) wide.