We are finally ready to announce the opening of our first Alpkit showcase store. We’re opening on Friday 14th April in Hathersage, in the Peak District National Park - with a further ‘Grand Opening’ weekend planned for the weekend of 28th April - 1st May.

Yes, Alpkit, the online only and direct to consumer outdoor gear chaps and chapesses are coming to the Peak District with our first 6000sq.ft flagship store. Now of course we’re continuing with our online presence, this is how we started and it’s the core of who we are and what we do. We are still direct to consumer online and now in our own shops. Yes, we will be selling direct in store, we’re not working with other retailers, or third parties, we have our own way of doing things and the best way to maintain that is to do it ourselves.

But why? Why would we want to open an outdoor shop? Well, most of us learnt our trade by starting out working in outdoor shops to earn a few quid to head off climbing, biking or paddling for a few days (or weeks), and some of us never really stopped. We’ve always dreamt that one day we would have a flagship store somewhere we could put into practice everything we’ve learnt over the years and give our customers the full Alpkit experience.

We’re super excited and know the delights and benefits that having a space like this can have. We started tentatively with a showroom here at Alpkit HQ and it’s always a pleasure to welcome people in, show them our gear, chat about adventures and have a cup of tea (or coffee for the non-believers).

We want to give our customers the opportunity to see and experience our products directly, it will give us a chance to portray our personality in a more direct way (something we’ve loved doing at shows over the years) and it’ll also let us reenforce our award-winning customer service with those using and interested in buying our gear, to offer advice, listen to feedback and chat about what we’re all up to, where we’ve been on holiday, that sort of thing.

This is where our staff team will play a huge part, which is why we have found a crack team of Store Heroes, Mark, Dan, Ben, Lola and (Fast) Freddie are the core team and will be there to provide service with personality that goes above and beyond the expected.

We really are a little giddy with excitement (or is that the paint fumes) to be moving into Hathersage, right in the heart of the Peak District. It’s a place we’ve been visiting for years, not only for the outdoor Mecca that is Outside, but also for honing technique on the grit of the legendary Stanage Edge. Our store will not only represent our range of outdoor equipment, it will also consist of a dedicated room for our Sonder bikes too, with in house Bike Guru, Demo Bikes and workshop.

We really hope that we can do Hathersage and its community justice and help maintain the long standing tradition it has as a destination for those who just love getting outdoors and enjoying all sorts of activities. The store is on Main Road in Hathersage, right next the brilliant Coleman’s Deli and just up the road from those lovely guys at Outside.

There will be an official opening on the May Bank Holiday (28th April- 1st May) with further information to follow.