19/08/2025
An end of an era... What can I say that has not already been said in the comments by others... I first visited Surfladle when I was 15 with my dad, who also windsurfed... Although it is a small shop, walking through the door is like an Aladdin's cave or the tardis of Windsurfing. I visited the shop every time I visited my Nan, who lived in Shoreham. Over the years, it went from "going to Surfladle" to "I am popping in to see Danny and James" as the relationship grew. I remember purchasing my second F2 board at the age of 17... It was an F2 air... My Nan would walk down to the Surfladle for my birthdays and Christmas gifts, as she didn't know what else to get me... Harnesses lines, UJ's ECT...
At 21, after travelling around Australia, Fiji and America, I returned to the UK and moved to Shoreham... I worked at the shop for Danny and James... Over the years, though life's changes good and bad, Surfladle.... Danny and James were always there with a cup of tea ready, and over the years, either I got taller or Danny got shorter. We all knew this would be upon us... But for me and others, it was always more than just a shop. Windsurfing has always been a big part of my life... my story and journey... And Surfladle was there right from the start, giving me and others guidance and advice. Being on the other side of the counter watching and listening to you with customers taught me to be attentive, patient, have time for people, and go the extra mile with advice, help, and support. So thank you, especially for teaching me your excellent customer service skills and for being my friends.
Well, this has been a very odd post to write, as I am about to drop a bombshell.
After nearly 40 years of being involved with this shop and 31 years of being behind the counter, it’s time to call ‘Time Ladies and Gentlemen’, as the megastore is now up for Sale. This is due to just how long ‘anyone’ can continue to work weekends, let alone Bank Holidays, before they decide it’s time to get a life! James and his wife, Pippa, have a bucket list as long as your arm to catch up on and I have a lovely wife at home who requires my DIY skills, to get on with all of the repairs to the place that have been put off for the last 14 years (since we moved in!). There’s also the case of looking a little too old to be a Surf Dude behind the counter!
So, is this perhaps your opportunity to take the reins and re-generate Surfladle into a whole new era? It’s a shop with a long history and although we still have people turn up who never knew we were here, there is a large customer base that do and Shoreham is growing rapidly, so a whole lot of new customers to bring into the world of water-sports, right on your door step. If you are interested in such a move in your life, just let us know and we can meet in Alaska for talks.. or you can call, email or WhatsApp us, if that’s easier!
Those of you who have credit with us, from used kit or Gift Voucher sales, will be contacted shortly, so no need to worry. Anyone who has recently bought kit and is worried about their warranties have no cause for concern (as long as you have kept your receipts) as anyone taking on the shop will deal with that and if not, the UK suppliers will deal with it directly. If you would like to know who they are, just contact us and we will let you know. More info will be shared as and when we move along with the sale, so no need to panic.
It would have been lovely to have called everyone to let them know personally but that would just not be possible, so a post on Facebook is the only way we could think of, to let everyone know, especially as there’s no ramble this coming Friday, which would have been easier. We really did not want our customers, who really are more like friends, hearing it on the grapevine.
So, there you have it for now but hopefully many more years to come from Surfladle, at Shoreham Beach.
