Britain’s high streets will be hit with more lockdowns today as Argos, Boots and B&Q close branches
Britain’s high streets will be affected by further closures today as Argos, Boots and B&Q have closed branches.
Argos in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland, will close its doors as part of Sainsbury’s plans to divest 50 standalone branches by the end of this month, according to reports.
Boots will also divest two of its stores today: in Church Street, Malvern, near Worcester, and in Port Arcades Shopping Centre, Ellesmere, near Chester.
These closures come on the same day that B&Q says goodbye to eight of its mini-branches seen inside Asda supermarkets, according to Sun.
Instead, B&Q is aiming to launch small shops 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 at the following locations: Sheffield Drakehouse, Dagenham, Roehampton, Edmonton, Thurmaston, Great Bridge, Lancaster and Hartlepool.
A B&Q spokesperson told MailOnline: “To adapt to changing consumer demand for speed and convenience, B&Q has been testing smaller store formats on high streets, retail parks and concession formats within Asda stores.
‘Thanks to our “test and learn” approach, we continually collect feedback from customers and colleagues, which helps us evolve the shopping experience in these smaller stores.
“We have decided to focus on developing our plan for smaller street formats. We recently launched our new small format store brand, 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 Boots spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Boots has over 2,200 stores across the UK.
“We continually review locations to ensure they are where our customers need us most and it is never a decision we make lightly when looking to close a store.”
The statement continued: ‘Two stores, the Port Arcade store in Ellesmere and the 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 at other stores in the local area.
“Nearby boot stores will continue to offer pharmacy services and customers can find their nearest store on Store Locator (boots.com).”
MailOnline has contacted the owner of Argos, 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 closing its doors in a further blow to the local economy.
Boot’s Church Street store in Malvern will also close tomorrow, one of two that are closing
Marks and Spencer is another name closing stores across the country as it battles high costs in another blow to Britain’s ailing High Street.
The department store announced last year that it would close 67 larger stores as it looks to open more of its popular Foodhalls in a bid to save £300m, including a £100m reduction in the energy bill.
M&S chief executive Stuart Machin said the retailer aims to have 180 “full line” stores selling food, clothing and home goods by early 2028, up from 247.
The first of the stores to close, in the East Kilbride shopping centre, closed its doors on February 25, with further closures throughout the spring, some of which are still under inquiry.
Blinds are being lowered for good on seven ‘lower productivity, full line’ stores, but closures are still under consultation
Meanwhile, budget chain Poundland is opening 12 new stores in a new boom for Britain’s struggling high streets.
The retailer has confirmed dates for four new openings, with the rest of the stores opening sometime next month.
Among the new sites will be the chain’s Scottish flagship store on Crown Street, Glasgow, which will become the country’s largest branch at 18,380 square feet.
The openings are part of a larger plan by the discount retailer to open or relocate 50 new stores by the end of the year.
Branches will be across the High Street, shopping centers and retail parks.
The budget retailer plans to open 12 stores across the UK this month and next; this is where they will all be.
Sainsbury’s last month announced plans to close two Argos warehouses over the next three years in a move that will affect 1,400 jobs.
The supermarket giant confirmed that it aims to close its Argos store in Basildon, Essex, and a warehouse in Heywood, Greater Manchester, by 2026.
Bosses said staff who lose their jobs would have the “opportunity to find alternative roles” in other parts of the business.
The retailer is closing 50 larger Argos stores before the end of the fiscal year in favor of investing in more smaller branches within Sainsbury’s supermarkets.