Fashion boutique shutting shop after 28 years in Battle

Ladies fashion boutique Barbarosa is due to close this summer as owner Baerbel Davies is planning to retire.

The shop has been in Battle for 28 years in various guises, starting off life in the High Street as International Stores before moving to Abbey Court and becoming Barbarosa.

Two years later, Gayles was established in the High Street.

Two years ago Barbarosa moved from Abbey Court to the High Street site and became Barbarosa @ Gayles.

Baerbel Davies said: “We have made some lovely friends in customers. It’s been wonderful.

“We have had some good years and it’s sad we have to go.

“We would like to thank all our customers for their support over the years.”

The popular shop, which opened right in the middle of an economic downturn, has survived several recessions.

Baerbel said: “I actually opened in a recession, although it was not anywhere like this one now.

“We have had one or two smaller ones, but this is the biggest one.

“But it has not been as bad as the media makes it out to be.”

But Barbarosa will be going out on a high, with French-Canadian designer Joseph Ribkoff holding a farewell fashion show on Tuesday.

Fashion models will be heading down from London to take part in the show, appropriately named End Of An Era.

Baerbel has plenty of plans for her impending retirement.

She said: “I have an elderly mother I look after and I do enjoy gardening, rambling, just starting to relax - that’s the idea!

“And I can now go on holiday when I like and I don’t have to book it in!”