Alice’s Antiques: Inside Paddington Bear’s favourite antique shop

Alice’s Antiques is something of a Notting Hill landmark.

It appeared in the original Italian Job (1969) and all three Paddington films, where it served as the inspiration and set for Mr Gruber’s antique store. “When children come in, we tell them Mr Gruber is away, skiing or surfing, and write their names in a little book,” says owner Douglas Carter. “It’s magic. It’s incredible how much joy those films brought to the shop. People travel from all over to take a photo out front.”

But now, for Douglas, selling Alice’s Antiques marks the end of an extraordinary family chapter. The shop, standing proud on the corner of Portobello Road and Denbigh Close, has belonged to the Carter family since 1952, when Douglas’s grandfather – a former rag-and-bone man – first opened its doors. Douglas himself has run the business for the last 34 years.

“It’s been in the family for three generations,” he explains. “We’ve seen Notting Hill completely change – mostly for the better – but the soul of the place is still here.” Douglas has too many fond memories to count, but highlights include working alongside his father, watching as the business evolved from scrap metal dealing to selling furniture and antiques, and the day he took over the shop – it was the same day his youngest daughter was born.

He also remembers when the area was full of antique dealers, over 100 by his count. “There’s just a handful of us left now. The neighbourhood’s evolved, of course, and especially Portobello Road, but it still has that energy. That community feel. That’s what I’ll miss.”

The building, including the characterful corner shop and a bright flat above, is now under offer through Knight Frank, a decision Douglas and his brother reached after meeting with several agents. “Even though we’ve known Jack [Thomas] for years, Knight Frank stood out,” says Douglas. “They understood the building, the shop, the feel of it. It wasn’t just another listing to them.”

For Jack, an Associate in Knight Frank’s Notting Hill office, selling such an iconic property comes with a strong sense of local pride. “It’s rare to handle a building with such a deep connection to the fabric of the area,” he says. “Everyone knows this corner. You don’t have to explain where it is; you just say, ‘Alice’s Antiques’ and people light up. For us, it’s not about marketing a shop and a flat. It’s about stewarding something that means a lot to the neighbourhood.”

So, what’s coming next for Douglas? He’s looking forward to a change of pace and more time for family. “Running the shop is a 24-hours-a-day-thing,” he says, “you don’t just open the doors at 9am and close them at 5pm.” His plan now is to watch his granddaughter play football and visit his son, who’s building eco lodges in Nicaragua. “I can’t wait to see him, but I’ve got to fit it around the Chelsea fixtures,” he quips.

He will miss the camaraderie of the market, the regulars who pass his door each day, and the buzz of Portobello Road. “But I’ll be back,” he says. “You don’t leave Notting Hill for good. Not when it’s given you this much.”

Find out more about Alice's Antiques or view more properties for sale in Notting Hill.