A major high street retailer, which currently has over 500 stores across the UK, has announced it with close down a popular branch in just a few weeks.
The announcement comes as another major blow to the high street as it battles competition from shopping centres, online shopping and unaffordable business rates. The Works is a UK-based discount retailer that sells a range of books, art, craft materials and stationary, first founded in 1981. However, the doors to the Margate branch in Kent will close its doors on Sunday, June 8. According to reports from Kent Online, the branch – which is situated on Margate’s High Street – will close and affect the employment of six staff members. It is not clear what will happen to these workers when the site closes.
A spokesperson for The Works said: “As part of ongoing plans to optimise our store portfolio, we will be closing our Margate store.
“We have loved being part of the local community and apologise for any inconvenience caused by this closure. Customers can continue to shop with us at our nearby stores at Westwood Cross Shopping Centre and Ramsgate Garden Centre.”
The news has not been taken well by many locals, who fear Margate will be left a ghost town for shopping.
One resident said online: “No I love the works.”
Another said: “Be nothing left in the town soon.”
While the news from Margate may not be positive, The Works has plans to open more stores over the next five years.
In January, the retailer announced that it aimed to open 60 new stores within half a decade. In the first half of the 2025 financial year, it also opened three new stores, relocated two and closed eight predominantly loss-making stores.
The Works said it is expecting five more net store closures in the second half of the year but is building a new store pipeline that will hopefully “see a return to growth”. Five new stores are targeted for the 2026 financial year.
Gavin Peck, CEO of The Works, said: WLooking ahead, we are mindful of the need to navigate fragile consumer confidence and significant cost headwinds but believe there is much to be optimistic about at The Works.
“We expect that our action to grow revenue, increase margins and reduce costs will deliver improved results in the remainder of this financial year and in FY26.
“We have laid the foundations for our new strategy, which will transform the business and deliver a significant improvement in performance and shareholder returns in the years to come.”