The full list of Dobbies that are earmarked for closure
Dobbies has announced that a significant number of their stores will be shutting down ahead of Christmas. According to their release schedule, Dobbies – Pennine, Kings Lynn, and Gloucester locations are all set to close on December 15, followed by Dobbies – Harlestone Heath and Altrincham on December 17 and finally Dobbies – Gosforth between December 19 and 20.
A spokesperson for Dobbies commented on the impending closures stating: “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.”
The company has previously closed several Little Dobbies outlets including those in Bristol, Richmond, Cheltenham, Edinburgh Stockbridge, Chiswick, and Westbourne Grove. Closing down sales are ongoing at the Huntingdon, Inverness, Reading, and Stratford-on-Avon branches, although specific closure dates haven’t been released. In an additional move, Dobbies is looking to reduce its rental costs at multiple other locations including Aylesbury – World’s End, Hare Hatch, Havant, Leicester, Lelant, Morpeth, Northampton, Rugby, and Stapleton.
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In October, the company announced a restructuring plan that would see 17 unprofitable stores shut down, including 11 main garden centres and six Little Dobbies outlets. The closures will affect 465 of its 3,600 employees and leave it with just 60 garden centres, reports Birmingham Live.
Despite currently operating 77 locations across the UK, Dobbies is also seeking temporary rent reductions at nine sites in addition to those marked for closure.
