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Teddy Bears of Witney
A toy store with a twist
This week's favourite tour comes from the unique toy store, Teddy Bears of Witney. Three decades on from the year they opened and they are still going strong, stocking their special collection of limited edition teddy bears.
This Cotswolds store was founded by Ian Pout and aims to deliver the 'finest and most collectable teddy bears in the world'. As you can see from the virtual tour below, the wooden shelves are filled to the brim with bears, dogs, monkeys, elephants and more, of all sizes and colours. They even line the hallway and fill the windows with their friendly faces.
Famous favourites
The shop stocks renowned manufacturers such as Steiff, Merrythought, Dean's, Kosen, Charlie Bears and Witney Classics. Steiff, a German toy manufacturer, produces a wide range of high quality teddy bears that are coveted by any collector. British bear manufacturer, Merrythought, is the longest running bear manufacturer in England.
On display in their museum are even a few famous faces! These include royal bear Alfonzo, Aloysius from Brideshead Revisited, and Peter Bull's favourite bear, Theodore. You will also find many of the original bears from The Teddy Bear Encyclopedia.
Ian said: "My favourite old bear has to be Alfonzo, the red Steiff bear we have had since 1989 and which belonged to a Russian princess. His Romanov story is captivating and his aura is all pervading. Pocket Alfonzo, the little replica Steiff made of him recently, is my favourite new bear."
Friends near & far
The store celebrates its 30th birthday this year and has made a big impact. Ian said: "Last week we received a generously worded letter from the friend of someone who had recently died from breast cancer - she told us that one of our bears was on her bed during her last days and that, as well as her many visits to us over the years, had given her great comfort.
"Such feedback makes us realise how lucky we are and what a wonderful business this is. Customers often become friends. Many visit us on special days (their birthdays or anniversaries) and some travel from faraway countries just to visit us. After 30 years, we feel very privileged and grateful to deal with things we love and with such wonderful people."
So, whether you are a collector looking for unique limited edition bears, or you just want for a fun day out with the children, Teddy Bears of Witney is one place not to miss.
See Teddy Bears of Witney's virtual tour below. Find them at 99 High Street, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 6HY or visit www.teddybears.co.uk. Follow them on Facebook here.
Date: 06 February 2015
Author: The 360 Company