‘It used to be nearly all independent shops’
NANCY CONNOLLY meets Balwant and Taru Doshi, the husband and wife team behind one of Bath’s most beautiful independent shops, Hale’s pharmacy
HAle’s chemist on Argyle Street in the city is a hidden gem, a wonderful old curiosity shop still dispensing medicines and herbal remedies to the people of Bath as it has done for nearly 200 years.
One of the oldest chemists in the country, with its beautiful ionic pillars and delightfully Dickensian shop front, inside the shop is a treasure trove of original wooden shelves with old bottles and medicines which have been there for decades.
You can buy anything from hairclips to hot water bottles, lipstick to sweets, herbal remedies to hair brushes, and if they don’t have it they will order it in.
Run for nearly 40 years by the Doshi family, the shop is still going strong and is a friendly lifeline for local people during the pandemic.
When Balwant and Taru Doshi came to Bath to take over a city centre chemist in 1983, they had no idea what they were letting themselves in for.
Originally from Africa, they arrived from london to take over the beautiful little chemist shop with their young family in tow.
Nearly 40 years later they are still there, and they brought up their three children - two sons and a daughter - in Bath. They have always, and continue to work tirelessly to serve the people of Bath - and have never been more important to the community than they are right now.
Balwant and Taru know their customers, their customers’ children, and when you visit Hale’s you get a personal touch - greeted by name, with your prescription waiting for you.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Hale’s has also been delivering medicines to people shielding around the city.
Balwant and Taru’s son Rajen is also involved in the business, and helps run both the shop in Argyle Street, as well as their sister chemist in Widcombe.
Balwant Doshi, born to an Indian family in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and his wife Taru, originally from Nairobi, have worked tirelessly at the chemist since they arrived in 1983.
It wasn’t easy running a busy chemist shop with three young children.
Taru said: “When we first arrived it was a hard graft, but everyone was so friendly when we came to Bath. We never had any trouble, people were so nice and welcomed us with open arms.
“Our children made such good friends, they are still friends today and meet up regularly. Bath is a lovely place for families.
“I sometimes feel guilty though as we were so busy we didn’t have much time for anything else, the children had to be very independent but maybe that’s a good thing,” she said.
The pandemic has hit small,
This has been a really difficult time for all, but we hope and pray that the city bounces back and becomes the vibrant place we are all accustomed to Balwant Doshi
independent shops like Hale’s pharmacy hard.
Balwant said: “This has been a really difficult time for all, but we hope and pray that the city bounces back and becomes the vibrant place we are all accustomed to.
“We, too, face the same pressures that other businesses do, but above this we have tried to ensure the needs of the people we serve are met.
“We have people who just come in for a chat, and I believe more than ever it is important
that people still feel they can come and do that.”
As well as prescription medicines, the family specialises in herbal medicines and alternative remedies for various ailments - and they are experts in the field.
Their son Rajen said: “We only buy the best vitamins and minerals. There are so many on the market and we try and test everything and do our research. You don’t have to pay a fortune for really good products.”
The chemist shop has a remarkable history; it was once an old apothecary in the early 19th century and a coat of arms by Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, hangs above the door.
Inside the shop, the original wooden counter and shelves are still in very good condition. The Doshis have tried to keep the historic element of the chemist alive and well. They are very proud of their history, and old articles about the shop adorn the walls.
Balwant said: “When we first came here, times were very, very different.
“The pharmacy had a license to sell small bottles of liquor like whisky and brandy, and we believe we may have been the last chemist left in the country with such a licence.
“Bath has changed so much since then; it used to be nearly all independent shops. I hope people will support the independents now - I think it is really important for the city, we really need that support as it can be very tough. We have such loyal customers and they have been so good to us, we could not have survived without them.”
■ Hale’s chemist is at 8 Argyle Street, Bath, and is well worth a visit. The shop is a real part of living history in the city run by a unique, hard working family who have made Bath their home.