Renowned Cirencester department store to close down after more than 45 years

Street view outside Gardiner Haskins
-Credit:Google


A longstanding and well-known independent department store in Gloucestershire has announced that it will be closing it's doors after more than 45 years. Gardiner Haskins announced it will be closing its Cirencester store, saying the company has fallen victim to many of the issues facing the UK's high street stores.

In a statement put out today, Thursday, January 30, the store said: "Changing shopping habits and structural cost increases significantly above inflation have combined to make the store unviable. Unfortunately, this is a very familiar story and one that is playing out across high streets all over the country."

Customers have been told that the Cirencester store's closure will be managed to cause as little impact to the community as possible. The company has assured customers that their orders will be processed and fulfilled, despite the Cirencester outlet's closure, adding that the after-sales support will be transferred to the Gardiner Haskins store in Bristol, which will remain operational as long as it is profitable.

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Gardiner Haskins' Cirencester store has been serving the Cotswolds since 1979. It is Cirencester’s biggest independent department store, as well as its largest independent home centre.

Ben Allen, Managing Director of Gardiner Haskins has said: "This is sad news for our staff and the community this store has served for over 45 years. I would like to thank our customers for their loyal support.

"We have been proud to serve the people of Cirencester and to be actively engaged with the community supporting local charities and sponsoring Cirencester Town Football Club. We will work with these community partners to make sure the impact of our closure is minimised.

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"We are also fully committed to minimise the impact of the store closure on our loyal staff who have worked incredibly hard to maintain our business throughout a uniquely challenging period. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all. They are an outstanding team.

"We will support affected staff with enhanced redundancy packages and outplacement support to help them find new employment opportunities."