13/01/2026
It is with a heavy heart and not without a lot of sleepless nights that I hereby announce that ANDERSON & WALL will be closing the doors for the final time on FRIDAY 30 JANUARY 2026. We are now holding a CLOSING DOWN SALE with all stock items, including, helmets, jackets, gloves and all clothing and motorcycle accessories at vastly reduced prices.....come and grab a bargain!
I always knew, especially since I became a sole trader and, obviously, getting older, that one day I would have to retire and sell up. Well, unfortunately, that time has now come and I have decided to close the business. As well as retiring it has also become untenable for us to continue and, sadly, 'the final nail in the coffin' (and I'm sorry to keep on banging the same drum!) has been the 'so-called' Celebration Mile. We have struggled for the last 2 years and it has been really difficult with customers trying to find us or being unable to get to us, firstly due to the road works and now Eastover area is finished, customers and ourselves have to drive around the perimeter of Bridgwater just to get to Church Street.
It has not been an easy decision to make. I started working for Anderson & Wall as soon as I left school, as it was my mother and father's business, having purchased the former business and garage in High Street (now the Engine Room). My father Dennis worked for Anderson & Wall for many, many years. We've always believed the company was started in 1918 and know they had numerous premises in and around the St Mary Street area. Many people will probably remember them from the corner of Dampiet Street (now Fine Memorials) and we also know they had a tyre depot on the opposite corner and workshops in Friarn Street. We tried a few years ago to find evidence of dates but could only find photographs. We also, could only find dates back to 1923, unfortunately. Even so, this still makes the company over 100 years old....so definitely, the end of an era! The business dealt mainly with motorcycles in the early years also taking on the Reliant three wheeler franchise whilst still in the High Street.
We moved to Church Street, in, we believe the late 70's, so we have been in our current site (the former Eastover Motors) for approaching 50 years too! The Reliant three wheeler years were very good for the business and followed later by Yugo Cars, Hyundai and Microcar.
Sadly, my father passed away in 1995 and the business was left to my brother John and I to continue, with Mum's continued interest and help, to this day. In 1997 we decided to go back to our roots and have a try at motorcycles again, as well as used cars, as the Reliant franchise was slowly declining due to the manufacturers lack of sales and ownership. Ultimately, we experienced the loss of Reliants. With the success of used motorcycles and scooters we then got on board with many different scooter and motorcycle franchises, including Sym, Kymco, Rieju, Keeway, Royal Alloy, over the years - trying to pick what we felt were the best in an ever expanding market. John and I had quite a few years selling mainly lightweight scooters and motorcycles and helmets and clothing helping to give the young, local individuals independence for getting to work and college as well as adults looking for cheaper and convenient modes of transport. John died in 2012, unexpectedly leaving the future of Anderson & Wall in my hands, not what I was expecting!
All that remains for me to say is a massive THANK YOU to all the many, many customers who have supported us over the years..........we shall miss you and your cars, Reliants, trikes and motorcycles and scooters. We hate the thought of letting you all down, even though we only see some of you for your annual MOT test! Any scooters or motorcycles that we have sold, especially those with warranty, can go to any bonafide dealer for continued servicing and warranty work.
Hopefully we have kept many of you on the road and we have always tried to be fair and honest with all our customers....................thanks again Richard
