Anything Left Handed Shop History
The original left-handed shop opened in 1968 at 65 Beak Street, at the bottom of Carnaby Street, Soho, in London's West End. In addition to the shop, the premises were used for sending out catalogues and mail order parcels as well as being a general meeting place for local left-handers.
The owners would pack parcels when there were quiet moments during the day then close the shop for a few minutes each afternoon to walk round to the local post office to have them delivered.
In 1990 the landlord advised us that the whole building was going to be redeveloped and that our lease would not be renewed. We had to find new premises and after we moved out the building was left empty for years and never was redeveloped. Our old premises were eventually re-let as a shop with exactly the same layout as ours! Indeed, as of July 2024, the building has not been redeveloped!
We moved to a brand new shop about 200 yards away at 57 Brewer Street in 1991. This was just a refurbished shell so we had to completely fit it out ourselves. We liked the old black and white colour scheme from
Beak Street so we painted the new shop in the same colours.
When our original 15 year lease came to an end the landlords wanted to increase our rent by around 60%. The shop had actually been running at a loss for years, supported by our mail order and, increasingly, online business. We could not find alternative London premises at a viable cost so we reluctantly had to make a decision to close the shop and move to warehouse premises outside London to focus on our online business. The Brewer Street shop closed in May 2006 and we no longer have any shop premises, with all sales now being through this web site.
On a positive note, that has allowed us to reach a much wider audience and provide products, advice and entertainment to left-handers all around the world!
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(I still have a t-shirt with the left handlers in their right mind message. The main difference is that the one I have is more of an art layout and style. Not the slightly plain one you have now.)
All the best. Yours, Dave Martin.
I own a 2 bed town house in Melbourne, Australia. I often think, when I listen to talk on the radio, my property should be let for more than the managing agent has it set. BUT I would rather have someone in the place, making sure roof leaks are caught before they fully saturate the carpet, and to stop squatters who cannot easily be evicted, from moving in.
By the way, yes, I am left handed, as was my Dad, but he was made to write with his right hand. He was a very clever man, and was, really ambidextrous
Glad you have overcome and flourished over time.
My wife is a lefty, extremely intelligent and has beautiful penmanship.
I look forward to viewing your product line. Christmas is just around the corner.
I'm really sorry but we don’t have a catalogue at the moment - it's impossible to keep up with all the changes in the range / etc.
However, you can see all the current range at https://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk
Best Wishes
Anything Left-Handed
She was smart very early; at the age of 13 she told us she wanted to become a veterinary doctor.
She graduated from University of Portland,Oregon Ca. She has groomed dogs and animals since that age. She worked in a let's surgery for 7 years, taking care of many homeless dogs and cats pro bono.
Alas, she passed away at the age of 42, leaving two very young children. It was severe post-partum depression.
Every day we, her parents, think of and pray to her
To keep up to date with product / lefthandedness news, just complete the form that's on the left hand side of most of our product / category pages - dont forget to click submit :)
We are still searching for a new manufacturer & if you sign up for the left handers club via our site (see the bottom right hand side of our home page for the quick sign up form) you will be the first to hear about any new product launches
I recall visiting your Beak Street shop in the 1980s, where I bought, amongst other things, my address book. Sadly it's seen better days, so would like to buy another please. Please could you also send me your website details.
Many thanks.
- though unfortunately we dont have any address books any more - sorry.
My husband and I plan to be in London around Christmas time in 2024 and I had hoped you would still be on Beak Street.
Oh well, time changes!
I'd like to have a browse through your items, as I need a new address book.
But I'd like to see what other items you sell.
Unfortunately we no longer stock a left handed address book - the minimum order size grew exponentially whilst demand was rapidly declining. Sorry
However we do have a very wide range of products available - please see https://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/
If possible (still available) could I please receive a catalogue, per post ?
To:
Mr.R.D.Toovey
Bosweg 3
3235 CA
Rockanje
Holland
Sorry
From Jan-June 1967 , I was working as a 16 year Jnr salesman in a guitar shop called Sound City, 124 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1. Link to an article about me, Sound City: The London Music Shop Where the Fuzz Face was born
https://reverb.com/uk/news/sound-city-the-london-music-shop-where-the-fuzz-face-was-born
In March 1967, one of the managers, thought it was a good idea for a wind up to send me out to buy some left handed scissors. I went into a normal nearby hardware shop and they didn’t have any but they recommend I went to the left handed shop in Beak St, which wasn’t far away to buy the said scissors. When I got back and gave the manager the scissors and the receipt, he wasn’t too happy as his joke had backed fired on him and it had cost him money.
Your posting, has got it facts wrong, as it claims the shop was opened in 1968.
I’ve just been looking for a lefty shop and would like some information about left handed people and how it works rhw brain I know it sounds silly but someone said that lefty’s are different is this true ?
I played tennis in college and some people would refuse to play a lefty, they would forfeit their match.
Thank you
pauline
Good to see you are still going (albeit without a shop), especially as it looks like one of my grandchildren who is just 5 appears to be left-handed.
I still have the pair of Left-handed scissors that I bought (at Beak Street) on happening upon the shop one day - what a godsend to finally be able to cut something accurately! Anyway,have signed up for your Newsletter, so at least I can order anything I want from you online.
Ridiculous how Landlords squeeze the very essence out of the joys of life though!
If u have a right handed mug with a joke written on it, it faces you, not the rest of the room. Some people therefore think there is no such thing, as if it's a pretty picture that you wish to see yourself, then u might as well have a right handed mug!!
Thanks :-)
For a left handed person thanks. Ricky Heath
Thanks again. Jill Cain
I ordered two pairs one for dressmaking, and one for general use. i am really pleased with them, especially the increased ability to cut out fabric successfully!!!!!
thank you
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