Another one bites the dust - London Guitar Shops.

[TrevorR]

Ivor  Mairants has never been a bass focused shop but is one of the old grandees of the Soho music shop scene. Just had an email from their mailing list saying that they are closing down after trading for over 60 years. Not part of Denmark Street but tucked up a side street off Oxford Street nearby, it was one I always popped into for a look any time I was in the area and having an idle browse.
 

Retail is a tough old biz these days and so I’m not surprised that a small, independent shop like that can’t keep going. That’s 21st C commerce. Still a shame when I look back at what the area was like back in the 80s when I first started visiting. 

[Lozz196]

It’s a shame these shops are going. I remember back in 1991 when I needed a bass amp head just going to Denmark St area and checking out both what I liked and what I could afford. I then had the difficulty of getting it home - fortunately I hadn’t bought an SVT!

[Happy Jack]

Mairants occupied a site that was guaranteed to be part of a major redevelopment scheme ... the whole area around the old Rathbone Street sorting office is gradually being demolished and replaced by enormous mixed-use blocks.

 

Given that they were off piste anyway, I was surprised they stayed in business (at that location) for as long as they did. My guess would be that (unusually) they owned the freehold of their building and were waiting for a staggeringly ginormous offer to sell.

[ezbass]

2 hours ago, TrevorR said:

tucked up a side street off Oxford Street

Sadly this has contributed to its undoing. 
 

I used to go in there lots, when I worked uptown. Hobgoblin were just up the street a bit, on the opposite side.

[police squad]

My dad had guitar lessons with Ivor himself

[pineweasel]

It seems the actual store closed back in 2019 and it's been web only since then: https://ivormairants.co.uk/pages/about-us

 

On Street View the premises is occupied by a shop called Maks Guitars.

[dave_bass5]

Ive walked past that shop so many time over the years, always past it in to Park Cameras though.