Charlie Bears

In Launceston, Charlie Bears brings together two sides of the same enterprise: a brand of collectible bears and characters, and a gallery and shop at The Bearhouse. Charlotte and William Morris founded the company in late 2005; its first collection, a group of 12 bears, launched on February 1, 2006. The company says it has since created more than 2,500 designs, now sold through retailers and online stores in several countries.

Charlie leads the creative direction, designing characters and collaborating with artists who specialize in bears. The company describes its pieces as handmade and produced in limited quantities, with some collections released in particularly small editions. That mix helps explain why the catalog appeals both to families looking for a plush companion and to adult collectors who follow particular characters, materials, and series.

The catalog extends well beyond the classic teddy bear. Plush and Plumo sit alongside Isabelle and Minimo, fantasy characters from Monsterology, animals, and collaborations with names such as Moomin and Julien Macdonald. The website lets shoppers browse by collection, animal, recommended age, size, color, and price, while separating new arrivals, preorders, limited editions, and pieces that are no longer available.

The UK online store makes it possible to compare designs before choosing; product pages describe materials, height, accessories, and recommended age. The range includes plush designs, pieces made with mohair or alpaca, and characters with embroidered details, clothing, or accessories. For families, those details help distinguish an everyday toy from a piece intended mainly for display or collecting; the age guidance on each listing should inform the choice.

A visit in person has a different pace. The Bearhouse Gallery displays collections from the company’s earliest releases and occupies a space that began as Charlie’s design room. The gallery’s final phase opened in 2016; today, the display is paired with a dedicated shop, so visitors can look for a model they noticed in the cases or ask about the releases available there.

The venue is designed to welcome different visitors: the company lists disability access, an elevator to the upper floor, baby-changing facilities, and an indoor picnic area with tea- and coffee-making facilities. The gallery describes itself as a family-friendly, multisensory space rather than a stop only for collectors. A visit and an online purchase offer two distinct ways to engage with the brand.

Gallery admission is £3, with free entry for visitors under 18, over 60, and Best Friends Club members. Alongside its UK website, the company operates stores for other markets and sells through an international retailer network, making Launceston both a visitor destination and a hub for a wider collecting community.