Shop of the Week: Ladies that Launder, Westbury-on-Trym

Opposite the local Co-op and a few meters away from a Pullin’s Bakery, Ladies that Launder is an independent shop much-loved by the local community.

Owner Jane purchased the business back in 2013 and since then it has been ran by her and her daughter Holly.

Jane and I sit opposite each other in the shop while Holly and another employee, Hannah, continue working around us – it’s satisfying to watch them iron creases out of bedsheets and neatly fold them up.

The smell and sounds given off by the equipment provides a calming atmosphere.

Some of the women behind Ladies that Launder – photo: Mihai Rosca

Jane purchased the business after facing a lot of misogyny from her male bosses in her previous career in real estate.

She says they didn’t like “career wise and confident women”.

After a trip to Australia, she started looking around for a part-time job and discovered the laundry service, but found that the owners were looking to sell.

Within a few months she purchased the shop, changed the name to Ladies that Launder and, because then there was a big restaurant opposite them, also changed it’s motto to “You lunch, we launder”.

The rebrand hasn’t proved popular with everyone though: one coffee shop decided not to do business with them because they had an issue with it being only ladies that launder.

Although a man now works at Ladies that Launder, Jane explains that calling the shop “Ladies and Man Launder” wouldn’t work as well and I am tempted to agree.

“It’s just a name!” she says.

Holly in a big pile of donations – photo: Holly

In the last 12 years the business has grown to incredible heights.  Jane, Holly and Hannah say they have contracts with the Bristol Bears, the Bristol Bisons and Australian women’s football team the Brisbane Roars.

Jane says Ladies that Launder are the Brisbane Roars’ “first point of contact when they get into the country”. “Sports people need clean laundry every single day,” I’m told.

But they also have more ordinary clients ranging too.

Jane says: “We’ve just awarded a long-standing customer an Oscar for him having been with us for 13 years.

“He thought that was highly amusing and he displays his gold Oscar trophy at home and everybody that comes around gets that shown.”

Ladies that Launder stayed open during the pandemic, even doing lots of “squaddie” sets of laundry for military service people in Bristol.

They received a commendation from a brigadier for their “support in the battle against Covid and looking after the soldiers’ clean washing”.

Surprisingly, the business was also once the set of TV drama True Love. Apparently, a large crew came in and took everything out to give it a more retro look, replacing their more modern furnishings with older pieces.

However, unfortunately the scene in the shop never aired because Julie Walters fell during production and hurt her back.

Ladies that Launder is a family-led business – photo: Mihai Rosca

Jane is also a recurring guest on Radio Bristol. Honestly, is there anything this woman doesn’t do?

Initially she volunteered to come on and talk about brain fog but they loved her so much they decided to keep asking her back.

Despite their fame, they till try not to take themselves too seriously.

Jane says: “We try to have fun in here.

“It’s laundry, not accidents and emergency! Don’t get your knickers in a twist over a pillow case do you know what I mean.”

The team also do a lot of charitable work and often support a loyal customer’s wife who collects underwear for people in Uganda.

Clothes that don’t get picked up are donated to local charities and they also provide work to girls looking for Saturday jobs.

The business is truly family-led, husband Keith does delivery and Holly’s boyfriend, a builder, also helps out if there’s ever any need for him!

Main photo: Mihai Rosca

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