Oldham pet shop to close 'before Christmas' after 40 years

Fishnet Aquarium and Pets announced online that its doors will close for good within the next month after standing firm for years.

The 'alternative' pet shop on Crompton Way in Shaw was bought by Lynn and David Hague in June 1982 when the couple were in their early 20s and had their son, Damien, who was just five at the time.

Life has revolved around the shop ever since with the couple going on to have their daughter Leanne in 1987 and eventually getting married on a Wednesday - the only day the shop was closed at that time.

Lynn and David outside the shop, 1984 (Image: Fishnet Aquarium and Pets)

Lynn said running the shop hasn't been without its challenges,  with the digital age threatening the high street and seeing other businesses come and go over the years.

The couple also said they endured the "worst time of our life, bar none" after the tragic death of their son 16 years ago.

Lynn said: "Losing our son nearly saw us giving up altogether.

"Our lives had changed forever, but our amazing daughter gave us our reason to go on with life.

"We couldn't give up.

"With the emotional support of family and friends, and in particular, Steven Cahill - our full-time employee at that time - he helped to get us through the day-to-day running of the shop.

"We couldn’t have done it without him."

The old original shop front which used to have a zebra crossing outside (Image: Fishnet Aquarium and Pets)

Now, Lynn said David is "well past retirement age" at 68 and, as she is a full-time carer to her 83-year-old mother with dementia, the couple felt it was time to relax, unwind and "get a bit of balance".

She added: "It’s the end of a massive part of our lives.

"We have made many friends along the way, and the few staff we have ever employed have become like family to us.

"But on the whole, we are feeling positive and we are ready for it."

The Hague's hope closing the shop will give them time to see family and travel - particularly to see Leanne who now lives in Qatar with her husband and children.

Reflecting on their journey, the couple said: "We could never have imagined that we would still be here 40 years later, or what the years in between would hold.

Their son, Damien, 1985, playing on the land near the shop that was turned into a car park (Image: Fishnet Aquarium and Pets)

"We are very proud to say we have a lot of loyal customers, some of who we have been seeing since they were very young, and we are now serving their next generation and in some cases, their second and third generations."

The pair insist the closure is "not a sad announcement" but presents the "end of an era and the start of the next chapter in our lives".

Leanne at the shop in 1989 (Image: Fishnet Aquarium and Pets)

The announcement online concluded: "We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to every single person that has graced our shop over the last 40 years.

"It has been our pleasure to serve you.

"To everyone who has helped and supported us in any way, shape, or form, and to all of our family and friends, we really appreciate and thank you all, and we couldn’t have done it without you."