Shirley Aquatics: Celebrating 85 Years of Trading

Aquatic retailer Shirley Aquatics is celebrating 85 years in business, making it one of the oldest aquarium businesses in the UK. It first opened its doors in 1939 on the Stratford Road, Shirley, West Midlands and the business pioneered in marine keeping, tropical plants and Koi. In 1982 Ronald and John Cook took over the business, and Richard Cook still runs the business to this day.

I remember when I first visited Shirley Aquatics in the 1990s and was blown away by their marine livestock section, their saucer-sized Discus and their huge, high-quality Japanese Koi gliding around what was then a very futuristic kidney-shaped purpose-built indoor koi pond. Visits to Shirley’s continued throughout the early 2000s and then on official business when I visited with Practical Fishkeeping Magazine, and afterwards when I worked for suppliers. 

For me, the 1990s were the store’s heyday, but the business changed a lot and in 2016 they sold up and moved to a new location at Becketts Farm which I visited recently. 

For marine keepers, it has by far and away the largest fish-only marine display tank in the UK at 16 feet in length, and the Cleair tank, cabinet and sump combinations are some of the best value I’ve seen on a litres per pound comparison. There are lots of wet displays but despite the mega tank, my fondest memories are still of travelling to the old store. 

And you think distance selling is a new thing? Shirley’s was selling mail order in the 1950s…

Shirley Aquatics is as old as a Spitfire, it opened in World War II, and it’s still trading today. The challenges and changes they have endured in the pond and aquarium hobby must be phenomenal. Happy Birthday!