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Peter Baldwin Talks Toys

29 September 2009 3,542 views 6 Comments
One of Covent Garden's more famous faces

One of Covent Garden's more famous faces

CGJ caught up with Peter Baldwin, owner of Covent Garden’s longstanding and most famous toyshop.

Benjamin Pollock’s Toy Shop has a history that goes back to 1865. How did you come to be the present owner of the shop?

In 1980, Pollock’s Toy Museum was offered a unit in the newly renovated Covent Garden Market. I helped manage the shop for around eight years and then in 1988 I bought the store with my brother. He opted out in 2008 and now I run the store with Louise Heard.

What kind of customers visit the store?

We get lots of parents who want to see toys from their childhood and are also keen to introduce something more imaginative to their own children. Children, love the shop. They can easily put the cardboard theatres together. A lot of our customers are from Europe, especially Germany, Scandinavia, Denmark, and Spain, who are interested in the toy theatres for their collections.

How has Covent Garden changed in the years you have been working here?

There used to be a lot more boutique stores such as the museum shops and the dolls house shop that I was particularly fond of. Today a lot of the smaller shops have moved away and there are more chain stores that can keep up with the rent. I think the area is on the change again and the owners want to upgrade Covent Garden further.

What do you think makes the area so special?

There is just so much variety from the street entertainers to the shops and stalls—all under one roof. And, of course, this is traditionally the ‘theatre land’ of London.

Finally, I had to ask, but do you ever get recognized for your previous acting role? (Peter played the character of Derek Wilton in Coronation Street for 21 years.)

All the time! I even get customers from America, Canada and New Zealand who watch repeats of the show and are very surprised to see me when they walk into the shop here in London!

By Marie Teather
Benjamin Pollock’s Toy Shop, 44 The Market, WC2E 8RF,
0207-379-7866
Mon–Sat: 10.30am–6pm, Sun: 12–4pm
www.pollocks-coventgarden.co.uk
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