Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire —In the heart of Woodhall Spa, nestled within a former railway station building, lies Britain’s smallest shoe shop. At just 3 feet wide, Peter Scott Shoes is so compact that standing on the shop floor allows one to simultaneously touch the front and back walls.
This narrow, wedge-shaped store—no more comprehensive than the length of three size 11 shoes—has been charming customers for the past 25 years. Despite its diminutive size, the shop has managed to thrive, making a name for itself as one of the smallest retail spaces in the country.
The 169-year-old building, which now houses this unique shop, has a rich history. Originally a booking office on a railway station platform that operated from 1855 to 1954, the structure has since served various purposes, including a funeral director’s office, a bank, an auctioneer’s, and a jeweller’s, before becoming a shoe shop in 1999.
Oliver Salter, 31, the current owner, purchased the store in September 2021. Salter, who employs a small team of semi-retired staff, is proud of the shop’s quirky charm. “It’s pretty much the shape of a cheese wedge,” he explains. “We were attracted to its quirkiness mainly—it is just so unique.”
Due to the shop’s limited space, it can only hold one size of each pair of shoes at a time, and customers must view the displays in a single file. Despite these challenges, Peter Scott Shoes offers many brands, including Rieker, Hotter, Lotus, Skechers, Jana, Wald Laufer, and Gabor.
For those seeking a shopping experience unlike any other, Peter Scott Shoes in Woodhall Spa is a testament to the appeal of small, distinctive businesses that continue to thrive in Britain’s retail landscape.
Join Oliver Salter, proprietor of the UK’s tiniest footwear shop, as he shares the fascinating backstory of the cheese-wedge-shaped establishment, which measures a mere 3ft in width—the equivalent of three size 11 shoes.
