Drakes jewellery family sell business after 72 years

RETIREMENT DECISION PROMPTS MOVE 

- WILLIAM TELFORD

THE family behind Plymouth’s famous Drakes Jewellers has sold up after 72 years of making the city sparkle. John, Eva, Monique and Andrew Hirshman are to retire and when it became clear no one in the family wanted to take over the business they decided to sell.

Drakes will be transferred to multi-award-winning jewellers Allum and Sidaway, with Jason Allum at the head of the business. The company is headquartered in Dorchester and also has stores in Salisbury and Gillingham.

The Drakes Jewellers business was founded in 1950 by the late Harry Hirshman. His son John took over in 1975 and John’s children Monique and Andrew joined the company 33 years ago.

Over the past seven decades Drakes has taken over some prominent locations across the city, including Cornwall Street, New George Street, Raleigh Street and of course Drake Circus Shopping Centre. Through its ethos and values and customer service it quickly became a staple and trusted jeweller within the city and has also had a presence in Truro, Exeter, Swindon, Bournemouth, and Taunton.