A HIGH street pharmacy chain is closing more stores next month and shoppers say we’re in “bad times”.
Boots will close its Kings Square branch in York as well as its store in Warminster.
The health and beauty retailer has been pulling the plug on several of its branches across the UK and 300 are set to close for good.
Both stores will close on October 28.
Eagle-eyed customers spotted a sign in the Warminster branch that confirmed the closure.
Disappointed shoppers took to the comments to share their thoughts.
One commented “Bad times”, while someone else said “Oh for heaven’s sake”.
Today’s new closures are part of wider plans that will see the retailer’s total shops reduced from 2,200 to 1,900.
Boots had not confirmed which stores are set to shut when it first unveiled plans back in June.
It also already unveiled plans to shut several stores in October and November:
Here is the full list of Boots stores to close by the end of the year:
- Windhill Road, Wakefield – October 6
- Upper Warrengate, Wakefield – October 7
- Glastonbury – October 13
- Uppingham Road, Leicester – October 13
- Guildford Road, Woking – end of October
- Kings Square, York – October 28
- Warminster – October 28
- Gorleston, Great Yarmouth – November
- High Row, Darlington – November 3
- Mudge Way, Plymouth – November 18
- Mount Pleasant, Exeter – November 18
- Front Street, Prudhoe – no date
The stores that have already closed in 2023 are as follows:
- Salford Shopping Centre, Greater Manchester – February 2023
- Church Street, Malvern – March 11
- The Port Arcades Shopping Centre, Ellesmere – March 11
- King William Street, London – June 2
- Heathside Road, Woking – end of July
- UEA campus – end of July
- Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff – August 1
- Holywell, Flintshire (Wales) – August 26
Boots said in all cases there is an alternative store less than three miles away.
You can find your nearest Boots store using the locator tool on the website.
Boots isn’t the only pharmacy chain to shut locations, earlier this year Lloyds closed all of its sites within Sainsbury’s stores.
It has struggled with losses for several years and shut 76 stores in 2022.
Retailers have been feeling the pinch since the pandemic while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to soaring inflation.
High energy costs and a shift to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
Brick and mortar stores have also seen a lack of footfall due to consumer habits switching to online shopping.
Wilko fell into administration August 10 and as a result, all of its stores will close for good.
Just today (September 19), 38 of its branches will shut their doors.
Pub giant Wetherspoon has already closed dozens of boozers across the UK, including in Hove, Derby and London.
The chain, like many others, has been hit hard by rising costs brought on by high inflation.
Costa is to close its cafe in West Bridgford, near Nottingham on Friday, September 22.
Customers looking to get their caffeine fix need to visit several sites nearby, including in a Co-op and a Tesco supermarket.
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September 19, 2023 at 03:55PM
from The Sun