Hattons Model Railways has announced the sad news that it will be closing their model railway business for good after being in the market since 1946.
The business says that it has seen a decline in customer numbers, demographics and supply chain disruption – with increased operational costs.
Hattons has also said that the company is not insolvent and is being wound down in an orderly fashion, leading no debts.
No official closing date has been announced yet, but they have begun a closing down sale.
Finally, Hattons has released a full news page with lots of FAQs should you have any, more details available here.
A Hattons spokesperson said “It is with immense sadness that we share news of the upcoming closure of Hattons Model Railways, an institution in the hobby since 1946.
Over the decades, we've been privileged to serve enthusiasts and share our passion for model railways with hundreds of thousands of customers.”
Hattons Closure is upsetting to me, as I have used them for many years for my OO Gauge and current N Gauge layout trains. I always found them very good, as did my Grandfather who loved to telephone them for a chat. Helpful, and always wanting to serve you by telephone. I always hoped the move to the old car showroom would improve the business, but it nearly killed it off with the bills and running costs. Looking at the latest Railway Modeller it does not seem right, without a Hattons Model Railways advertisement inside it. The end has now come, may this business rest in peace financially with people who care about it personally.
Having read all the considerable comments, I feel a need to place my views on record. Now in my mid 70´s and having a Triang Railways set when I was 8 in 1957, I appreciated the Princess Elizabeth with plastic wheels and brass plunger pickups on the Standard track. I retired to Spain some years ago after inheriting some money. I used to spend many hundreds of pounds buying items for my Ventnor (Isle of Wight) layout. When Triang got into difficulties in the late 60´s/70´ I bought lots of items from my local Model Railway shop as a future investment.
Almost as a foresight, I was saddened to learn about Hornby moving from Westwood to the flsh industrial estate building, spending a fortune in rent and then wisely saying goodby to the MD who effectively almost killed of Hornby. Nowadays the videos from Hornby are an eyeopener to their high prices ideology. Onto Brexit–somewhere in the Model Railway empire I read that a retailers sales amounted to about 40% came from the EU. I had no problems buying from Hattons at all with excellent prices and delivery. But with Brexit pending in 2017, I emailed Hattons asking if they would be opening an Irish (north and/or south) or French depot. They replied that they were setting up the wallet/trunk system. This is no help to me. Now with hindsight, Hattons could have saved say this 40% income by opening up a Northern Ireland warehouse – which as we know has the advantage of zero additional VAT or input or shipping charges. I believe that (!) Northern Ireland is just a small hop from Liverpool. So instead of the Widnes warehouse, continue the original shop but with the warehouse in Northern Ireland with no increase in shipping costs o the rest of the UK. I only purchase items from N.I. or Ireland.
Sorry the closing down the people that owned it made some silly decisions and cost them the business others be warned keep it under your control most management in UK are crap and only out for a qua buck the model rail industry is worth millions so don’t get to up your self good service and quality will win every time 🤔👍🇬🇧
I’m inclined to agree. Friendly staff but some seemingly daft decisions by people who were out of their depth – knew about selling a loco but not necessarily extensive retail experience and hence overreacted themselves. I’m surprised at the closure as they should have been a robust business if they had stuck to basics – ie decent brand and scale. In my experience a few cowboys among the online fraternity including a Yorkshire based business that could always be relied upon to manipulate its eBay auctions.
Only used them once and all I can say is my experience was negative .Everyone I spoke to just wanted to get me off the line . As far as I’m concerned it’s good riddance , they got too big for their boots . I also feel they have helped the decline of many local model shops where you could see what you were buying .
There is one big thing that Hatton’s did not mention in their announcement that many in the UK may not be aware of. Back in September Hatton’s bought MB Klein/ Model Train Stuff here in America in Maryland. This was one of the major online retailers in the US. About a month ago they announced that they would be closing down operations in Maryland, all employees would be laid off, and started a clearance sale. They also announced “MB Klein is currently undergoing operational changes. Going forward, all orders will be dispatched via third parties. We will also be retiring our current location at Cockeysville, Maryland.” While they left the website up all the orders were being shipped by other companies. Now this announcement by Hattons that they are closing follows. It looks like they got themselves overextended at least.
It’s all too expensive they make it impossible for people without alot of money like regular working people working 9 to 5 to get into the hobby it’s geared solely toward wealthy older men so won’t be surprised if many more closures happen even the wealthy don’t like to be taken advantage if paying 50 and 60 dollars for an ho scale boxcar or 60 plus for a switch so if these model train companies don’t make it affordable to more people more closures will happen guaranteed
Absolutely gutted by this news. Now in my twilight years, I returned to railway modelling only 15 months ago and discovered Hattons to be an absolute treasure trove for their second hand items. Their wishlist service and Trunk delivery have been brilliant, yet dealing with them online has somehow felt like really being in their shop.
True to their style of business they choose to close in an orderly way to protect their customers, instead of just waiting to go belly up as many others do.
A sad day for railway modelling, and even sadder for their staff. Many thanks for your service and best wishes for re-employment.
I went through a very rough patch in my life, whilst living in the States. When I discovered Hattons, it was a marvellous life line back into the hobby, which helped me “stay afoat”. Very sorry to hear this unfortunate news!
Having been to their ‘new’ premises in Widnes I was not surprised to hear that they were closing in some ways. Big disappointment compared with the old shop. They must have cost many retail shops a lot of business over the years through their online business. Not sorry to see them go.
We considering the ever increasing prices of these model trains I’m surprised more aren’t going to close the cost of an HO scale die-cast steam engine can cost 1000 Canadian I know because I have bought several and they priced then so any average working stiff that wanted to get into the hobby coukd never afford this great hobby I don’t have a lot if money but got injured and am pretty much housebound so needed a hobby and I thought after seeing videos on YouTube that it be great hobby building the layout but I don’t want the cheaper versions of anything I saved and saved and would get one piece at a time and after 4 almost 5 years now I have a nice layout and some nice trains mostly BLI steam engines .but when they ask 50 and 60 bucks for a plastic boxcar its gotten out of control they shouldn’t be no more then 15 or 20 bucks at most even the best die-cast steam locomotives should not cost the insane prices and in order to have the descent stuff like DCC sound models you pay far too much they should lower their prices so more people can get into the hobby I have so many buddies that woukd love to get into the hobby but at the prices they say it’s just too expensive a hobby it’s geared toward people of means luckily I had a few extra dollars to get my first engine a bli big boy but had to save a while to get other engines I had my bigboy buy no controller or track for months so didn’t even get to run it when I got it but I wanted the best version of it so was patient and saved to get tge controller n track .but people in the hobby even the ones that can easily afford it are stated to see we are all being overcharged for the simplest things like switches and basic plastic boxcar and caboose are way over priced so you will see more closing if these greedy companies don’t get real when it comes to prices people are tired of being fleeced over something that shoukd be affordable to anyone with a 9 to 5 and not just the well to do.
Right, here’s my comment. I know nothing about model railways, Hattons or Brexit.
But i do know that good manners cost nothing. Im amazed at the way some of you talk to each other with such rudeness and spite. Now that IS disappointing!!!
Good manners are a thermometer ofhow we value each other. Jesus told us to love each other! Even our apparent enemies in railway modelling! Hating each other and revealing our ignorance by our lack of respect for others and their opinions gets us precisely nowhere. This is NOT good!
As a teenager in New Zealand in the 1960’s I brought trains and accessories by mail order from Hatton’s. I had been given a Triang layout when my uncle moved into a pensioner flat and didn’t have room for it. There was one toy store in my town with a very limited range, mainly train sets. It was much cheaper to order from Hatton’s from advertisements in UK magazines than from within NZ. I would buy British Postal Notes from the Post Office to pay for my purchases. I funded my hobby by mowing lawns at 10 shillings a time, towing dads rotary mower from place to place behind my bicycle. I got back into the hobby when I retired. Fortunately there are a few good model shops still remaining in NZ, but they are slowly reducing in number.
Strange comment. The posts here seem reasonable to me; people just recording their experiences.
Sorry to hear about the company’s forthcoming closure and wish their staff the best for the future. No doubt they made some bad calls but who has not.
Apologies: my comment above was addressed to M Gardener.
Thank you for years of excellent service .Wish all the staff well. High prices from manufacturers and lousy Heljan O gauge
products did not help .I do mail order and the beaurocratic nightmare on international sales is a major problem, Every business makes mistakes,
but retail is so bad now recovery can be impossible
I have dealt with Hattons for many years, mainly in 0 gauge so I know little about other gauges. Their move to Widnes lost them a lot of customers, such as myself. I used to take my grandson by train from Chester, a quick walk down Penny Lane, then an hour browsing. Magic!
Also their disasterous venture into 0 gauge manufacture , Warwell excepted, resulted in fragile A3/A4 models which could be seen secondhand in pieces on their site, at a fraction of the new price, all warranty returns. Their Gresley coaches were also not well received, for much the same reasons. These must have lost them a fortune overall on these projects.
As for Brexit, it was the will of the people, and I for one danced with joy at the result. Now history, so forget it and concentrate on supporting all remaining UK model shops so as to give our children a chance of entering the hobby. Secondhand items from the estate of old codgers like me, should provide a cheaper alternative to overpriced new items from Heljan, who have flooded the market, leaving shops holding onto an expensive inventory they struggle to sell.
Manufacturers greed thinking that oh they’ll pay it if they want the next new so called long awaited loco.Realise the wider picture that we are all being ripped off in this country,just look at the prices in foodshops etc.Personally I found Hattons good when ordering and receiving goods.
Cheap and nasty Chinese crap sold at extortionate prices is hardly going to provide a base for a future. Not hattons fault. How is it we have only a handful of manufacturers who seems to think it is possible to manufacture in the UK and manage to turn out consistently great models at prices lower than the Chinese crap from the likes of Hornby. When Hornby was made in the UK they were affordable and great models, I still have my original railway children set and it still functions, even the smoke generator, my son had a duck model from Hornby china, it falls off the track everytime you try to go forward around a curve, and the Hornby supplied controller on the 3rd attempt to get one from Hornby that worked was broken on delivery and I swapped to UK made gauge master, though today there would be no point as they are now also Chinese crap. Boycott those that make in china let them bring manufacture home
Very sad indeed although I understand why. Having returned to the hobby and restocking with their Lima ‘bargains’ over the past few years, it’s beyond me how anyone can afford more than one or two new locos based on current prices. Especially trying to bring the youngsters into the hobby. Very sad, always had good service.
New locos from the main manufacturers are well over priced and they just think that people will just keep on paying their over inflated prices if they want certain locos etc.It is just a continuation of how we are all being ripped off generally with everything now.As for Hattons personally didn’t have a problem when ordering and receiving the odd items.
A sad bit of news.Good luck all the staff…Politics? No?, Come on, we all know what did the job here….Sorry, but you can thank Nigel. Cause and effect is catching up….try exporting classic tea and jam to Germany, where they were loved? Whole businesses ruined.
Nothing to do with Nigel, it’s most definitely down to the price of all things model railways, I’ve seen 00 engines nearing £300 .yeah they are super detailed and the sound effects are amazing but massively out of my price range !!!
It is sad, but we live in a real world where mistakes are made. If I’m a typical customer, I do look for bargains more than I used to as prices are too high. My main reason for reduced purchasing of say locos is the availabilty of spares. Try getting spares for the Dapol N gauge HST’s ? I recently needed two spares for one of my Revolution trains Pendolinos and only one was available, despite asking for one of them before the last run of Pendos, but still no spares arrived. It’s a lot of money for locos now, and if spares are not available it’s money wasted. BR LInes used to have a great stock of spares for Farish.
I read this and all the comments with little surprise. This is my list of suppliers over the last 33 years (what I quickly recall anyway):
W & H; Victors; Fratton Model Centre; Tracks; Jennings; Keiths; Great Little Trains; Winco; Bourton Models
A couple of others are still trading but there is little choice now and mail order from anywhere simply kills local retailers anyway. But what choice do you have if the local shop becomes unsustainable? Really I’m left with Gaugemaster or DM-Toys in Germany who, despite Brexit, manage to supply UK customers…
Past price comparisons are valid. Yes, an £80 Fleischmann unit was half a week’s earnings but its current near £400 equivalent is simply out of reach in the climate of increased utility bills, car running costs etc. Anyone facing a £300 uplift in mortgage interest this year isn’t out to add to their collection are they? The hobby is becoming the preserve of the better off (at least for new items), sorry manufacturers but Messrs Holland & Waterman are not enough to sustain you in the future.
I wish all the staff well in their search for work.
I have purchased probably a good few Grands worth of Railway Models over the years from Hattons.
I always done it over the phone speaking to a human and found the staff very cheery and helpful, so, sad for them..
However, isn’t it time we had a close look at how the Hobby is heading?
Yes, its came a long way from Lima standards, I can beat the earlier comment about a £10 Lima Locomotive, I remember paying £6.50 for a brand new Class 09 Shunter!
However, isn’t the case it’s now went to far, all that detail has to be reflected in the Prices now being asked.
Personally, if a model looks right, and has the “face” of the prototype, then I’m happy, I’m not really interested in opening cab doors, or seeing super detailed bulkheads behind a Driver, or even a Cab light, can you honestly see this detail when your Model is running around your Layout?
So the real decline in the Hobby is being driven by Manufacturers going to far, which in turn is pushing up prices (Bachmann, are you taking note) to the point that unless it’s a favourite Prototype, I just wouldn’t spend the money anymore.
Therefore the Hobby will decline.
A real shock. Great business. Reliable and consistent. Good ideas and plans one morning became a reality via DPD delivery the next day.. Almost as good as a visit to a local shop (many years since I had a local one). Hattons will be missed. Many, many days of delightful anticipation awaiting the next delivery.
Very sad dealt with them on several occasions, both selling stock and buying different gauge stock ,always been a pleasure to deal with and so sad to see them closing
I first visited the Smithdown road shop as a new university student in 1969-it was like discovering Aladdin’s cave!I have been a mail order customer for many years and have always been very satisfied with the service I received.A very sad loss to the hobby and very best wishes to all the staff for the future
Simply got too expensive.
Not everyone has Pete Watermans deep pockets
With locomotives costing costing more than one weeks income (State Pension), something has to give.
Maybe to much choice, liveries etc., and too many daily emails.
Sometimes regret the passing of the earlier offerings
I had as much pleasure from 1960s Triang as any finely detailed stock with DCC or whatever.
Always had good service from Hattons, but recently more a case of wishful thinking.
I used to buy locos from them for £50 ish. I remember they were affordable and great prices then about 7 years ago I think they shot up overnight because Chinese people needed a pay rise and it wasn’t small. I always said it’ll price itself out of business one day and it looks like that day has come. I mean £300 for a DCC sound loco is crazy and puts people off. You could splash out before because the prices were great. Now wagons are the price a loco used to be. There’s inflation and there’s greed. I know shipping and wages increase but prices have excelled way too much which I know would kill it in the end. I never ever thought Hattons would go. They were huge. I bought over £30k worth from them over time. I’ve sold it all now. Hattons were awesome. I wish all staff well.
They done the same as Rapid DIY so it stands to reason it would fail .
This sad used their mail order service many times. I always found the staff very helpful and knowledgeable. Their adverts in the Railway Modeller very good. I thought they had a great product range.Wish all the staff the best in finding new employment.
End of an era. I used to go in the old shop on Smithdown Road most weeks when I worked in Liverpool, there was always some bargain or other to pick up. Nearly all the good old railway model shops have now gone, Eames in Reading, Kings Cross Models on York Road, Hamblings on Charring Cross Road, Bec’s in Tooting to name a few and of course there was the original Beaties in Southgate where like Hattons you could always pick up a bargain or two, perhaps I’m just showing my age, but model railways has been a good hobby to me. Best wishes to all the staff for what ever they do in the future.
You have no business if you have no supply. Delays to the manufacturer impact the retailer hideously and there are only so many other items that you can sell before your public get fed up waiting.
I’m sad to see a shop that used to be one of my references close down. Not sure what I’ll do now.
They sealed their own fate when they moved to Widnes, it was hard to find their warehouse and not opening on a Saturday and Sunday wasn’t their best move.
My dad purchased my first model train from here in 1977 and I purchased my sons first train here in 2008. The costs of model trains has become ridiculous and out of the reach of most unfortunately. Thank you Hattons.
We had to leave we needed a bigger place as the shop was a health and safety issue with too muck stock.
As many comments already, it is sad to see and hear this. I have purchased from Hatton and have had no problem. I have also dropped out of the buying market, this being due to the cost of models. I feel that we who like to have the greater details in modeling are now paying the price for pushing the cost up. Lost track of the love of the hobby. I have reverted to more basic terms. And final, it would be nice to not have to see comments regarding politics, thanks
You’re referring to Mark? Whilst not the only factor, Brexit has affected all our imports ( and exports as some manufacturers have pulled out of the EU market). Some sectors affected more than others.
Model railways were always expensive. £ 7.7.6 for a Marxlin in 1968. Two weeks wages for me at the time.
Still so sorry to see Hattons closing.
Usa operation was a pipe dream and im sure was not everybodies idea at hattons
So very sorry to hear this news. I have been buying from Hattons for many years and I have always found them to be exvellent as to quslity, pricing, service and delivery. Being an international buyer (coĺlector), I have just been amazed, over many years, as to how Gattons were so consistently able to post to me so ‘cheaply’ across the globe ! I will miss this EXCELLENT retailer a very great deal and I doubt that I will ever again get the BRILLIANT buys which I have got from Hattons over many many years. I wish everyone at Hattons a happy 2024 and I just hope that in the full ess of time Hattons may rise again like thr phoenix. So very sad sad sad to read the news this a.m.
Sad news indeed. I have bought lots of model buses from there over the last few years; always quick despatch and certainty of arrival date, unlike auction sites and some other retailers. I take the point about the price of model railways putting people off, I decided to concentrate on buses as I couldn’t justify spending hundreds on a locomotive only to watch the detailing break off as I tried to get it out of the box. Bring back Lima!! Fingers crossed that the staff find other work and come out of it all okay 🤞
Sorry to hear this – i still have my Silver Standard HST set bought from Hattons in March 1988 and it comes out of the loft now and again for my own kids. Dad (RIP) and I used to go there and buy wagons, buildings or just get advice. Great times. Thanks for the memories
Very sad to hear the news, end of an era. Thank you to all of the staff – knowledgeable, courteous, efficient – good luck for the future.
The ignorance of those that can’t see the additional burden of cost and administration that Brexit imposed on small businesses is mind-blowing. The fools that voted for it can see how poor a decision it was yet still defend it. Stupid is as stupid does, as they say, and we are all worse off for it thanks to these ignorant clowns.
that is so true Mark
Considering the models come fronm China, and most of the customers are British, how do you relate it to brexit
agreed, and also according to their published accounts they doubled their sales to Europe last year !
Ive read they have big problems with Hornby & Bachmann, that may be a bigger issue. Plus the hobby is declining generally. But brexit has very little to do with it, trade with the EU was never a big slice of thier business, remainers endlessly bleating on about it and blaming it for the rain, the cist of products imported from China, or the number of immigrants from India just makes them seem like tiresome idiots
If you read their statement it specifically mentions Brexit as an issue. But hey, in your blinkered world you obviously know more about it than they do.
Er, because our economy is tanking?
Mark you are the ignorant clown. It is the charlatan government’s implementation of their version of Brexit where the problem lies, not the vote for Brexit itself.
You sir are a moron, enjoy it, this is just the beginning, the other ones will follow.
Not sure is the place for a political view. After all 55% of voters may disagree with you.
Spot on Mark. Brexitcaztital disaster as manybof us always new. Unfortunately too many in the prime demographics for model railways as well as classic vehicle events wished for a return to a golden age that was not that golden, and blamed problems caused bybthe UK system of politics ( First Past the.Post, over centralisation etc) unfairly on the EU, having been whipped up by certain popular newspapers and the likes of Farage and Cummins
With so many model railway shops already closed in Kent this feels like the final nail in the coffin and a very sad loss to those who have dealt with hattons over decades
Hattons failed because of greed they bit the hand that feed them and paid the price never should have gone toe to toe with bachmann and there class 66 stayed as a retainer and not a manufacturer. It’s there own fault my upset is the poor staff out of a job due to greedy management. Good luck to all the staff
Completely agree with this. Hattons management lost sight of the real goal, keeping clients happy and suppliers happier. They took on Bachmann which was a big mistake and one of the many reasons for their failure, but more importantly they gave me the impression that we the customers weren’t really that important. Whilst their staff were knowledgeable and competent they never exuded a warm personal friendly feeling. Their characteristic shop moved to an industrial estate in Widnes where they were more like a giant mail order warehouse than a shop. The moment you charge for kerbside collection i.e. you get charged for going in person to collect an item then the “plot is lost”.
I switched to Rails of Sheffield many years ago and don’t regret it. I’m very sorry for their staff who lose their jobs in the dead of winter. This is yet another example of mismanagement and the owners not really understanding that an important company serving a great hobby depends on its clients and their needs.
I think this is the most relevant view on what happened. If it was Brexit, writing as a Remainder, it’s very hard to see for reasons already given. Every other retailer has to deal with Brexit so is everyone else on the ropes? Don’t think so. When companies wind down don’t expect the whole truth in the press release. No one will ever say: “due to a failure in management or some poor decision making at board level”. But as Giacomo says, that’s what’s happened. A stock production manager was recruited in 2017. From 2018 to 2021 he managed to embezzle £76K worth of stock to feed a cocaine habit. It only got discovered by accident when someone noticed Hattons models being sold on another website. The disagreement with Bachmann and the removal of the entire Bachmann range was a huge own goal. The move to an inaccessible trading estate in the middle of nowhere hardly helped and when you visited it was like visiting a GPO sorting office window staffed by fewer and fewer people whose knowledge and advice used to be invaluable. A sad end to a once proud and competent outfit.
Hattons should have stayed a retailers bachmann are clear you manufacturer they will not supply you Hornby are the same.
How do you arrive at Brexit,when most of it comes from China ?
Well said Mark
Sad but I’m not surprised and think many more will follow. Railway modelling is rapidly becoming a rich mans hobby only with the price of most models now. When i started 40 years ago new Lima locomotives could be had for £10. I know that most modern ones are of a higher standard ( though are not designed to be serviced and repaired like they used to be, the intention is to throw them away when they wear out) but even allowing for inflation prices have increased out of all proportion. Even Hornby’s Railroad range ( many of which are the old Lima moulds) are expensive. The end result of this greed will be that the hobby will die out, as young modellers simply won’t be able to afford to buy stock, and will turn to other hobbies.
More So, a collector’s hobby that never come out of the box. Encouraging manufacturers to limited editions that inflate the price.
Brexit affected their sales to Europe rather than their purchases from China.
Its always been expensive. A £10 lima £40 yearsxago was half my weekly wage.. Half my weekly wage now, gets me a top of the range accurascale with sound.
Very sad. I can remember my first visit to the Smithdown Road shop in 1954 when I was five years old. This was in the days when Mr Hatton used to wear a long brown dust coat and I can remember how helpful he was. My father took me there and it
started a lifetime interest in railway modelling for me. Happy times!
So true 🙁 Agree entirely…but still a sad day…. regards JD
For all those attacking folk for mentioning Brexit please note that it was Hattons that mention on their website that Brexit was a factor. Indeed they state,
‘ Increased cost of compliance has become a large factor. Brexit, GST and other operational costs of running an international business have all increased dramatically over the past few years.’
So it’s Hattons that mentioned Brexit and I think we could do well to respect them for what they said rather than attacking each other.
If you went to Warley 12 years ago they filled two Halls this year it was just over half a hall ? its sign of the times we live in very sad all round
Please explain how this is to do with Brexit.
There are thousands of business that have had to deal with Covid, energy prices and difficult market conditions. Hattons have unfortunately not been able to adapt to these changes for whatever reason .
A sad loss .
Running a small business as I do before brexit we could ship to the whole of Europe simply and easily now it’s almost impossible, with triplicate documentation, tariffs and tariff codes, duties and administrative fees from shipping companies.
It’s a sad loss
Hattons says on its website that brexit was a factor in its closure:
“Brexit, GST and other operational costs of running an international business have all increased dramatically over the past few years”
Obviously not exclusively brexit. Nothing ever is. But brexit increases the costs of exporting to the EU. Contrary to the claims of HMG and the brexiters, the brexit trade treaty is significantly inferior to being part of the EU’s internal market. British exporters face non-tariff barriers, the costs of which make them uncompetitive in price and supply timescales. These factors will particularly hurt medium sized businesses like Hattons.
A sad end for a great business. I remember Norman Hatton packing items in newspaper secondhand boxes or anything that came to hand. No one minded the prices were good and despatch was fast!
This is very sad news and very much unexpected. Hattons have provided an invaluable service to the hobby over the years.
Sad to see such a trusted business disappear. I visited the actual store only once but their online service has been impeccable. Will be sadly much missed especially the great ads in Railway Modeller.
The whole market has built a reliance on fleecing peoples retirement funds. I’m not surprised their demographics have diminished, afterall, sadly those people won’t be around forever and now folks don’t have deposable income laying about so it’s a shame but hardly a suprise.
How cynical of you to make a comment like that.
You should hang your head in shame.
Just remember one day you may grow old and with an attitude like that god help you.
Strange how you regard reality as “cynical”. Perhaps you have fairy’s at the bottom of your garden plus a trust fund, but for the rest of us it’s a fact that boomers (gen z et al mostly don’t collect or play model trains) are getting older and retiring so no more salary, and a couple of years with high inflation and increased bills has reduced disposable incomes a lot.
Selling model trains and their accessories to people that want to buy them is hardly “fleecing” them of their retirement funds and to term it such is pretty cynical. The antique firearms market in the UK is also hitting hard times for similar reasons. The sort of people that like to collect old flintlocks and muzzle loading revolvers are dying out as they move into their 60s and 70s, leading to a severe contraction in the market
I thought the news was sad, but your bitterness is even sadder. Feel sorry for you, that you think that was ok.
Devastating news! Another valuable business closing down. Such wonderful stock and brilliant service. All that will be left are coffee shops and charity shops. But thank you for being there all those years
Such a shame, I bought my fair share of running stock over the years, couldn’t be faulted for prices/delivery etc. Will be sorely missed but thanks.
So sad to hear that this fine institution is closing down. It was always a pleasure when buying from Hatton’s as the staff were always so friendly and helpful.
I’m genuinely devastated, hattons is the reason I’m in the hobby at all.
I think there’s some mismanagement there, 680,000 profit in 2021 and only 23,000 in 2022.
Is it clear if the website will close too?
Mmmm! Whilst the son was Lording it in London! Say no more other than a nod is as good as a wink to a blind man!
Where do you get those figures from
Companies house
Very sorry to hear that news. I have bought several things from Hattons but unless there are new model RS constantly starting there is a limit to what existing modellers can buy.
This is very sad news I have like many used Hattons and found them to be reliable helpful and value for money.
Very disappointing, I’ve been dealing with Hattons for a number of years and the people there along with the service has been nothing short of 1st class
It’s a shame, another victim, ultimately, of over priced models etc from Hornby, Bachman and the other manufacturers. I stopped buying model rail stuff before COVID, due to the ever increasing prices.
This is so sad, a company that started just after the Second World War, closing its doors. Just hoping it doesn’t have a big impact on the supply chain.
This is really sad news I have lot a lot of my bus and coach models from them over the years.
Really sad news. I always found them so helpful. Such a shock. I too thought the hobby was thriving, but it’s just another model shop to disappear off the high street. Internet shopping triumphs again. Shops can’t compete.
They were predominantly an Internet business for the last 10 to 15 years ironically driving people away from modelshops, I think falling out with Bachmann didn’t help matters
It’s a shock but it doesn’t surprise me, after 60+ years as a customer they let me down three times in quick succession one was not honouring a pre-order. If they did that to others then they probably lost a lot of good will. Hattons was a business that should never have needed to close its doors, Norman if he is looking down from above will be devastated.
Gerry
Almost not surprised. They aren’t the store they used to be and I don’t think Hornby helped either.
That’s so sad – thanks for everything you have done for the railway modelling world!
This is very sad news indeed. I first dealt with this superb company back in the 1960s and only recently bought some secondhand items. The service was superb with most friendly and courteous staff.
I do wonder that in this day and age with products being produced at prices akin to a secondhand car, it is unsurprising that companies such as this have to consider their future. Maybe manufacturers might /should give this some thought.
This is a great shame, over many years I have built up my collection of locos from them , mainly preowned, I like the challenge of getting the locos to run again . The staff are always friendly and helpfull, . Never had any problems when ordering ,parcels well wrapped and items secure. Sorry to see you go ,a big loose to the model railway community.
Gutted, always gave good service…
Unbelievable news! Hatton’s was always my go to shop for all things OO. A huge loss for the Model Railway community and for competition in the pricing of components.
Service was superb, pricing very competitive including their shipping and handling, web site always up to date and purchase options were flexible.
AND I AM IN CANADA EH!
Now that’s a real shock thanks for all your past assistance.
Sad to see Hattons closing down only been there once but I have in the past used there mail order site a few times.
I had planned on going to hattons later this year but obviously not going to happen.
Regards to all at hattons and thankyou.
Very sad!!
What a shame, I brought most of my model railway stock from them. I thought that there had been an increase in demand since COVID….
Confusingly, Hatton’s purchased one of the larger US retailers in September too. They’d just finished liquidating the US store’s stock and shut down that operation in the last few weeks. Makes me wonder what was going on with that deal
Very sad to see yet another great business having to close due to Brexit, greedy energy companies and incompetent politicians.
Nothing to do with Brexit! Get over it.
They stated it’s partly to do with Brexit in their statement. It’s hard to ship abroad now which their custom came from.
It’s nothing to do with brexit, play another tune
Always one prat, who points the finger at the wrong target. No doubt under Labour all items would be half price, maybe without Brexit they wouldn’t charge at all. This sad news about Hattons has nothing to do with politics, so grow up and stop trying to score cheap points.
Try not to use politics in an effort to bash something you don’t like when talking about a model railway shop.
Brexcuses, brexcuses….. XD – nevermind there’s always one…..
Hatton’s own press release says Brexit was a factor.
A sad day as another company closes down
Gutted and gutted for the friendly staff I have met over the years has I often come into the store!
Don’t care what Hattons “say”. Where is the evidence? Besides, having mismanaged the company they have to blame someone else! Doesnt mean hattons are Remoaners (necessarily!)
Gosh ! This really is SAD news ! I really enjoy dealing with this good value and efficient business.
Oh no …not been into n gauge for long…such a shame, have purchased some great stuff from Hattons. A very useful alternative to stressful auction buying🥺