A RETAILER with over 200 branches is set to close one of its stores permanently on Christmas Eve.
Clintons is pulling down the shutters on its shop in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, for the final time within weeks.
The store, in High Street, will close for good just one day before Christmas Day, according to local news reports.
Residents will be able to find their nearest Clintons branch in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, over 20 miles away.
News of the closure has not been met well by residents, with one simply stating: “Such a shame!”
It comes after Clintons announced it would shut 38 of its 225 UK stores in a blow to the high street.
In August, restructuring experts FRP Advisory and law firm Jones Day presented plans to save the business in an insolvency court.
The deal will help save thousands of jobs and over one hundred shops across the UK, but it still means dozens of branches will have to close their doors for good.
Clintons has not yet revealed the full list of 38 stores earmarked for closure, however it has already closed some stores this year.
In October, it permanently closed its store in Daventry, Northamptonshire, in a blow to locals.
Meanwhile, a store in Whitehaven, Cumbria, closed in March and the Bolton’s Market Street shop shut down in August.
The ailing retailer also has plans to close a branch in Haverhill, Suffolk, early next year.
Clintons isn’t the only retailer struggling on the high street, with a number of others feeling the pinch.
Consumers are increasingly heading online to do their shopping and away from physical branches.
The Centre for Retail Research says online shopping accounted for over 26% of the total retail market in the UK in 2022, compared to over 10% in 2012.
High inflation since 2022 has seen consumers’ budgets squeezed too, meaning they’re spending less on leisure purchases.
Combined, it has seen a number of retailers fall into administration, including M&Co and discounter giant Wilko.
CDS Superstores, which owns The Range, has since announced it is reopening some of the Wilko stores which closed though.
Stores in Exeter, Plymouth and Luton are gearing up to open within just days.
Meanwhile, some retailers and chains are opening sites as others close them.
KFC revealed to The Sun it is opening a swathe of new branches across the UK between November this year and February 2024.
Meanwhile, Dunkin’ Donuts is planning to double its portfolio in the UK from 30 to 60 over the next two years.
And restaurant giant Lounge is also set to open another seven restaurants by January including in Hexham and Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
The Sun approached Clintons for comment.
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.
