One of Manchester city centre's oldest shops Harry Hall Cycles closes down

Harry Hall Cycles, one of the oldest businesses in Manchester city centre, has closed down. In a message on the shop's website, owner Graham Hall thanked customers for their 'support and friendship over the years'.

The shop was opened by Graham's dad Harry on Hyde Road in 1955. At that time still working as a lorry driver, Harry would spend his evenings building wheels and frames in a workshop beneath the family home while wife Jean ran the shop during the day.

The shop moved to Cathedral Street in 1960, becoming one of the first city centre cycle shops in the country, while Harry built a reputation as one of the UK's top bike mechanics, working on the world's great races including the Tour De France.

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In 1967, he was Tom Simpson's mechanic when the British cycling great collapsed and died at the summit of Mont Ventoux during the 13th stage of the Tour De France.

In the mid-80s the shop moved into the basement of the Corn Exchange and was evacuated during the 1996 IRA bomb which destroyed a large part of the city centre. The business, which has been based in the railway arches on Whitworth Street since 2000, has been run by Harry's son Graham since 1985. Manchester-born Harry died in 2007 aged 78.

In a message on the shop's website, Graham wrote: "We've many fond memories of working with the cyclists of Manchester (& around). We've met many nice people and been lucky to work in an industry that was also 'our pastime'.

"We thank you for your custom, support and friendship over the years. Wishing you many more happy hours of cycling

"Harry Hall's WAS a family owned & run