UK Cigar Scene Magazine February Issue 2 | Page 28

James Barber in Otley Nr Leeds James Barber Tobacconist is located in the historic market town of Otley, in easy reach of Harrogate, Bradford and Leeds. Barber’s is a family tobacconist with a wonderful history. Today James Barber runs the business which bears his name with his wife Angela but its origins go back to 1867 when James’s great grandfather Joseph founded the business. The fifth generation, Lauren and Alicia Barber have also recently joined the company having completed Marketing degrees and travelled to Cuba as part of their education. James’s great grandfather Joseph started by travelling from Yorkshire to the USA as a ‘carpet bagger’. He ‘bagged’ parcels of land in Virginia and Kentucky. He grew tobacco and ran a highly successful business crossing the Atlantic over thirty times visiting his plantations and importing tobacco to England. The tobacco was transported to Otley where it was turned into twist pipe tobacco. At one time he had a sales force which covered the whole of the north of England. James says that his great grandfather had major issues with the ‘locals’ when he chose to employ and pay former slaves to work on his plantations. His farm was attacked and his curing barns were burnt down. His great grandfather returned to Yorkshire in search of funding to rebuild his business. Eventually he managed to get finance in New York and when his farm was attacked a second time he took matters into his own hands and shot a number of the attackers. He decided that it was better for him to return to Yorkshire to run the business there and left his 27 brother in charge of the American farms. The shop relocated a few doors down the street and continued to do well under the ownership of James’s father, Jack and his brother Fred. The business relocated to larger premises across the road in the 1960s. In 2007 the business moved into a new 4000 sq foot shop in Westgate, Otley. Having traded on Kirkgate for over 140 years. The new store is one of the largest pipe and handmade cigar retailers outside of London with a 4,000 square foot shop selling a wide range of tobacco products and giftware, specialising in those hard to find men’s gifts. Inside the shop there is a spacious walk in cigar humidor, where connoisseurs will find many of their favourite brands in stock including such hard to find cigars. But don’t take my word for it, pop in and see them, they are a very friendly crowd! Contact: James, Angela, Lauren or Alicia Barber 20-24 Westgate, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3AS Telephone: [phone] E-Mail: [email protected] Social Media Facebook www.facebook.com/smoke.co.uk Twitter @smoke1uk