Dobbies Garden Centres have been earmarked for closure in December, having already shut down in the likes of Chiswick, Westbourne Grove, and Richmond.
From December 15, three more garden centres are set to close in Gloucester, Kings Lynn, and Pennine. According to Gardenforum, these stores are “unprofitable” and the closures are part of a “restructuring plan” to combat high rent costs.
There is, however, a requirement for the plans to be approved by the courts on December 9 before the stores close down for good.
Should the courts approve the closures, three more stores will close before Christmas. The current plan is for Dobbies to close in Harlestone Heath and Altrincham on December 17.
Another closure is planned in Gosforth around December 19, which means lots of people could be losing their livelihoods just before Christmas.
Dobbies Garden Centres earmarked for closure:
- Dobbies – Pennine – December 15
- Dobbies – Kings Lynn – December 15
- Dobbies – Gloucester – December 15
- Dobbies – Harlestone Heath – December 17
- Dobbies – Altrincham – December 17
- Dobbies – Gosforth – December 19/20
A Dobbies spokesperson previously stated: “Subject to the restructuring plan being successfully approved, we expect the affected sites to cease trading by the end of the year.
“Thereafter, Dobbies will operate 60 stores and continue to play a key role in the market, working constructively with stakeholders and suppliers, and having an active and committed role in the communities in which it’s based.”
Elsewhere, Homebase has confirmed that six branches will close for good in December. Stores in Sutton Coldfield, Bromsgrove, Cromer, Fareham, Newark and Rugby will be affected.
Three more Homebase sites in Londonderry, Inverurie, and Omagh are also set to close in the coming months, along with a branch in Glenrothes near Fife.
As reported by The Sun, these stores have been acquired by Sainsbury’s, which will convert the units into new supermarkets.
People who shop in Select may be disappointed to learn that the fashion retail is pulling down its shutters in The Mall in Cwmbran, Wales, around December 4.
Unable to renew its lease in the shopping mall, shoppers will have to say goodbye to the high street gem. A post on the retailer’s Facebook page said: “Heartbreaking to be writing this – but Select Cwmbran will be closing. Our last final day will be December 4 or 5.”
In light of store closures, other retailers are expanding, such as Reiss, which has just opened a new 3,933 square foot store at Gatehead’s Metrocentre in Newcastle.
Marks and Spencer have opened a new Yorkshire store – creating almost 80 new jobs – and IKEA is soon to be on Oxford Street, London.
