Dobbies shutting 16 garden centres in UK with full list of locations announced
Dobbies has confirmed 16 stores will close before Christmas. The full list of Dobbies that are earmarked for closure includes Dobbies – Pennine - on December 15, Dobbies – Kings Lynn - on December 15, Dobbies - Gloucester - on December 15, Dobbies – Harlestone Heath - on December 17, Dobbies – Altrincham - on December 17 and Dobbies – Gosforth - on December 19/20.
A spokesperson for Dobbies previously said ahead of the Christmas closures: "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."
Dobbies that have already shut include Little Dobbies - Bristol - already closed, Little Dobbies - Richmond - already closed, Little Dobbies - Cheltenham - already closed, Little Dobbies – Edinburgh Stockbridge - already closed, Little Dobbies - Chiswick - already closed and Little Dobbies – Westbourne Grove - already closed.
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The following are said to be holding closing down sales, without a specific closure date listed: Huntingdon, Inverness, Reading and Stratford on Avon. Dobbies is also seeking to reduce its rent at Aylesbury – World’s End, Hare Hatch, Havant, Leicester, Lelant, Morpeth, Northampton, Rugby and Stapleton.
In October, the chain revealed a restructuring plan to close 17 unprofitable stores, including 11 main garden centres and six Little Dobbies stores. The retailer announced closing sites would impact 465 of its 3,600 employees and leave it with just 60 garden centres.
Though Dobbies currently has 77 locations across the UK, it is seeking temporary rent reductions at nine sites in addition to those earmarked for closure, it says.