Kathmandu founder Anthony Kettley says the shop is “as busy as it’s ever been”
Anthony Kettley, the founder of Kathmandu on Ferensway, standing outside his newly redecorated shop.(Image: Kathmandu)
The owner of one of Hull’s most enduring independent shops has told of his ambition to keep going for another 35 years in the city centre. “Hippy” shop Kathmandu has been trading for more than three decades on Ferensway, offering its range of jewellery, body piercings, clothing and incense.
Founder Anthony Kettley started the business having returned from travels in India, “on the hippy trail” and it has thrived since – now employing eight part time staff. And the shop’s three piercing studios can do as many 80 piercings on a Saturday.
The 56 year-old, who is originally from Easington, said: “I went on the hippy trail about 36 years ago, and I came back with all these plans for opening a shop. And I’m still here, ever since.”
“I was a bit of a hippy myself and travelled all over India. I saw all these ethnic products including jewellery. I didn’t really know anything about the game at the time, but I opened with a few ideas and some handy crafts.
“At first it was bits of this and that, not a lot, and then I started to understand the trade and how to be a little head shop and a little ethnic shop – and things progressed from there. I’ve ended up dedicating my whole working life to it, really.”
Anthony’s family is now also involved in the business which has seen many changes over the years, including a five year stint where it expanded into premises next door. The shop is well known for its two statues – one of a Buddha and one of an African man smoking a pipe – that sit outside on the pavement and attract passers-by and shoppers to pat them for good luck.
Nearly a decade ago, the Buddhas came under threat when Hull City Council asked Anthony to remove them, claiming them to be a hazard for partially-sighted people. Reporting by Hull Live helped save the statues, which Anthony brought to the UK from Bali and Africa, via London’s Portobello Road.
To mark 35 years in business, Kathmandu has undergone a spruce up with talented local artist Andy Chalk having restored the statues and hand-painted striking new signage on the shopfront.
“The Buddhas have stood out there for 35 years and now they’re ready for another 35,” said Anthony. “There’s an ideal customer – and I can look at them and say “that’s a Kathmandu customers” but there aren’t quite as many these days. But we get plenty here with the piercing.
“We get people coming who bring their grandkids, people who had come in as young kids themselves. So now we’re on the third generation of people coming in. It was quite hard for 25 years keeping it going, but in the last 10 years its actually got quite a bit easier.”
Over the years, the shop has hosted filming of various television programmes including Come Dine With Me and a children’s show. Anthony said there have been a few famous faces through the door too, the most memorable being Norman Collier. And since Covid the shop has also been renovated with all new cabinets and opening out of an upstairs space.
Anthony added: “It’s busier than its ever been which is quite something after 35 years – especially with computers and ordering from the internet, which we battle”.
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