More high street closures today as Boots and B&Q shut branches

Britain’s High Streets are hit by a dozen more closures TODAY as B&Q, Boots and Argos shut branches – is your local store at risk?

• B&Q will shut eight of its mini branches seen inside Asda supermarkets
• READ MORE: Is the US facing a retail apocalypse? 

Britain’s High Streets are set to be hit by more closures today as Argos, Boots and B&Q shut branches. 

Argos in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland, will shut its doors as part of Sainsbury’s plans to get rid of 50 standalone branches by the end of this month, according to reports. 

Boots will also get rid of two of its shops today: in Church Street, Malvern, near Worcester, and in Port Arcades Shopping Centre, Ellesmere, near Chester.

These closures come on the same day B&Q says goodbye to eight of its mini branches seen inside Asda supermarkets, according to the Sun. 

Instead, B&Q aims to launch small stores on the High Street. 

Our map shows where B&Q, Argos and Boots stores are closing across the country

B&Q will close its concession today in the following locations: Sheffield Drakehouse, Dagenham, Roehampton, Edmonton, Thurmaston, Great Bridge, Lancaster and Hartlepool. 

A B&Q spokesman told MailOnline: ‘To adapt to changing consumer demand for speed and convenience, B&Q has been testing smaller store formats on high streets, on retail parks and in concession formats within Asda stores. 

‘Thanks to our “test and learn” approach, we’re continually gathering feedback from customers and colleagues, helping us evolve the shopping experience in these smaller stores.

‘We have decided to focus on developing our blueprint for smaller high street formats. We recently launched our new brand of small format stores, B&Q Local, with a view to expanding into more locations and, as a result, we will be closing eight small concessions within Asda stores. 

‘All employees have been offered alternative employment at nearby stores.’

A spokesman for Boots told MailOnline: ‘Boots has over 2,200 stores across the UK. 

‘We continually review locations to make sure they are where our customers need us most and it is never a decision we take lightly when looking to close a store.’

The statement continued: ‘Two stores – Port Arcade store in Ellesmere and Church Street store in Malvern – will close tomorrow as part of previously announced store closures. 

‘In all cases there is an alternative Boots store less than three miles away. 

‘Affected team members have been offered opportunities in other stores in the local area. 

‘Boots stores nearby will continue to offer pharmacy services and customers can find their nearest store at Store Locator (boots.com).’

MailOnline has contacted Argos owner Sainsbury’s for comment. 

The B&Q branch inside Sheffield Drakehouse’s Asda supermarket is one of the branches to get the cut

The Argos in Coatbridge is also shutting its doors in fresh blow to the local economy 

Boot’s Church Street store in Malvern will also close tomorrow – one of two that are shutting

Marks and Spencer is another name closing stores across the country as it battles soaring costs in yet another blow to the ailing British High Street. 

The department store announced last year it would be closing 67 larger stores as it looks to open more of its popular Foodhalls in a push to save £300million – including reducing a £100million energy bill.  

M&S chief executive Stuart Machin said the retailer aims to have 180 ‘full-line’ shops selling food, clothing and homeware products by early 2028 – down from 247.

The first of the stores to shut, in East Kilbride Shopping Centre, closed its doors on February 25, with other closures over the spring, some of which are still undergoing consultation. 

Seven ‘lower productivity, full line stores’ are having the shutters pulled down for good  – but the closures are still undergoing consultation

Meanwhile, budget chain Poundland is opening 12 new stores in a fresh boom for Britain’s struggling High Streets. 

The retailer has confirmed the dates of four new openings – with the rest of the stores set to open at some point next month.

Among the new sites will be the chain’s Scottish flagship store in Crown Street, Glasgow, which will become the country’s largest branch at 18,380 square feet.  

The openings come as part of a wider plan to by the discount retailer to open or relocate 50 new shops by the end of the year. 

The branches will be across the High Street, shopping centres and retail parks. 

The budget retailer is set to open 12 shops across the UK over this and next month – here is where they will all be

Last month, Sainsbury’s announced plans to close two Argos depots over the next three years in a move that will impact 1,400 jobs. 

The supermarket giant confirmed it is aiming to shut its Argos warehouse in Basildon, Essex, and a depot in Heywood, Greater Manchester, by 2026. 

Bosses said staff losing their jobs would have the ‘opportunity to find alternative roles’ elsewhere in the business. 

The retailer is closing 50 larger Argos stores before the end of the financial year in favour of investing in more small branches inside Sainsbury’s supermarkets.  

Source: Read Full Article