Huntingdon Dobbies among the 17 branches of garden centre chain set to close by end of 2024

Dobbies garden centre in Huntingdon
-Credit: (Image: Google)


Dobbies in Huntingdon is one of 17 branches of the garden centre chain earmarked for closure by the end of the year. The company announced the plans as part of cost-cutting efforts on Tuesday (October 1).

The King's Lynn branch, just over the border in Norfolk, will also close its doors under the proposals. The company has described the outlets it plans to close as 'unprofitable' and explained that the move would help to 'address historically uneconomical rent costs'.

Alongside 11 main garden centres, such as the King's Lynn and the Huntingdon branches, six Little Dobbies will shut. This will impact nearly 13 percent of the chain's workforce - 465 out of 3,600 Dobbies employees.

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The company will be left with 60 garden centres. Dobbies also announced plans to negotiate with landlords for temporary rent reductions at nine further sites.

All stores will continue to operate as usual while plans for the closures are finalised. The company also confirmed there would be no impact on suppliers.

The gardening specialist anticipates that the 17 sites will cease trading by the end of the year, subject to the successful approval of the restructuring plan. The announcement follows Dobbies' financial overhaul planning.

This began in August and the company cautioned it would lead to rent reductions and store closures. A full list of the 17 Dobbies branches set to close can be found here.