SERVICE WITH A STYLE: County Clothes celebrates 50 years in Canterbury
Kent indie retailer County Clothes remains a stalwart of the city’s high street
County Clothes (@county_clothes_canterbury) has never chased fashion in a hurry. Instead, for half a century, it has quietly built a reputation on something far less disposable: trust. As the independent menswear retailer celebrates 50 years at its original Canterbury site on St Margaret’s Street, that approach is proving remarkably resilient in a retail landscape littered with closures.
The Canterbury store first opened in 1976, founded by Bryan Weller and Robert Midlane. Today, it remains the spiritual heart of a business that has grown to seven branches across the region: Tenterden (1990), Reigate (2016), Sevenoaks (2018), Bexhill-on-Sea (2020), a second Sevenoaks store trading as Suits, Shoes, Sir (2022), Royal Tunbridge Wells (2022) and Herne Bay, which was acquired in autumn 2023. That expansion alone sets County Clothes apart at a time when many independents are retrenching or disappearing altogether.
Owner John Lambert, who bought the business in 2014 when remaining founder Bryan Weller retired, puts that longevity down to an almost stubborn belief in personal service. Lambert, who left school at 15 with no qualifications, entered menswear in 1979 and has now spent 44 years in the trade. ‘Quality personal service’ is printed on the company’s bags and it is more than a slogan.
The customer base is broad as are the brands, from the mod favourite Gabicci in Herne Bay through to classic Meyer trousers, Alan Paine knitwear, Magee tailoring, Eterna shirts and Gurteen outerwear. In total there are some 65 brands across County Clothes.
“It’s about making people feel welcome, making them feel valued.”
In Canterbury, store manager Nick Tyler has spent the past nine years working his way up from sales assistant. “I love it. From the guys in the business, I’ve probably had about 120 years’ worth of menswear retail experience to learn off.”
Tyler believes the reason customers keep coming back is disarmingly simple. “I think it’s the traditional values,” he says. “We pride ourselves on customer service, honesty. That was instilled into me. The attitude we always have is, a customer can spend £5, £50, £500 or £5,000 - that level of service stays.”
There is no commission culture at County Clothes, something Tyler says customers sense immediately. “We’re salespeople, but we’re not. You get to develop a real close relationship with the customer whether they’re here for five minutes or 50 minutes.”
Nick Tyler - Shop Manager, County Clothes, Canterbury
Sometimes that warmth catches some shoppers off-guard. “It makes people laugh,” Tyler says. “When they walk through the door, the first thing you say is ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good afternoon’. They jump back and say ‘I’m only looking!’. We’re just acknowledging you’ve walked through the door, whether you buy or not. It’s about making people feel welcome, making them feel valued.”
The Canterbury building itself reinforces that sense of history. Originally two separate premises - a bootmaker and an art gallery - it was later merged into one, resulting in a distinctive, winding layout. “This building’s that old,” Tyler says. “Underneath - though they’re boarded up - there are the tunnels that lead to the cathedral.”
While the bones are historic, the business has not stood still and Tyler has seen a clear shift in how men dress. “Post-Covid, it’s definitely gone more smart-casual,” he says. “A lot more chinos. The ties slowly disappeared, but they’ve made a comeback as people have gone back into the office. But the quarter-zip jumper, crew-neck or V-neck jumper, as opposed to waistcoat and jacket all the time, it’s more relaxed but still professional.”
That evolution is reflected across the estate, particularly in newer or coastal locations such as Herne Bay and Bexhill, where a more casual offer has been introduced. Tailoring, however, remains central. County Clothes’ made-to-measure service allows customisation of everything from linings and buttons to pleats and pocket shapes. “90% of what we do here can be tweaked,” Tyler says.
That expertise has also forged a long-standing relationship with Kent County Cricket Club. “Since the beginning of our partnership, we’ve proudly supplied the playing and coaching staff with Etch custom-tailored suits,” Tyler says. Having recently renewed the contract until 2028, County Clothes now also provides formal shirts and footwear, ensuring the team “looks sharp on and off the pitch”.
Against the backdrop of rising costs, Brexit-related price increases and persistent warnings about the decline of the high street, County Clothes seems to defy the times. But Tyler does not deny the pressures. “It’s difficult, don’t get me wrong,” he says. “But people have moved away from disposable fashion. They’re coming back to quality. They want to know where it’s made, if it’s ethically sourced.”
Customers, he adds, understand why prices have risen. “We thought it might put people off. But it hasn’t put that many people off, because they know the brands. And it goes back to the customer service side - that trust. That relationship is not client and retailer. It’s more than that.”
Fifty years on from opening its doors in Canterbury, that consistency may be County Clothes’ most fashionable asset of all.
INFO: www.countyclothes.com
