Gosforth branch of garden centre chain Dobbies to close in restructuring plan

The Gosforth branch of garden centre chain Dobbies is to close having been identified as unprofitable.

The UK-wide chain has confirmed plans to close 17 sites as part of efforts to "address historically uneconomical rent costs". Around 465 jobs will be affected nationally, though it is unclear how many at the Newcastle site.

Dobbies' popular site at Ponteland is not among the list of closures which will take the brand's estate to 60 garden centres. The Gosforth site was formerly Wyevale Garden Centres before it was acquired by Dobbies in 2019 and rebranded. Dobbies' other stores in the North East - at Morpeth, Ponteland and Stockton - are unaffected.

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The garden centre business, which was founded in 1865, also said it will also negotiate with landlords for temporary rent reductions at nine more sites.

While the restructuring is under way, all stores will continue to operate as usual. The company also assured there would be no impact on suppliers.

The decision follows news of a company-wide overhaul announced in August, which bosses said would lead to rent reductions and store closures.

A Dobbies spokesperson said; “We are implementing a restructuring plan to address historically uneconomical rent costs and to create a strong platform to return our business to profitability, access future investment, and to ensure a sustainable, long-term future for Dobbies. We are sorry to confirm that this includes the closure of our Gosforth store. Subject to the restructuring plan being approved, we expect this store to cease trading by the end of the year. Until that time, the store will remain open as usual.”

The list of main stores set to close includes

• Altrincham

• Antrim

• Gloucester

• Gosforth

• Harlestone Heath

• Huntingdon

• Inverness

• King's Lynn

• Pennine

• Reading

• Stratford-upon-Avon

Meanwhile a number of 'Little Dobbies' will also close, including

• Cheltenham

• Chiswick

• Clifton

• Richmond

• Stockbridge

• Westbourne Grove