Huge blow as drivers’ go-to store with over 750 branches to abruptly shut in another location

A MAJOR retailer used by millions of Brits is set to abruptly close another branch next month.

Halfords is pulling down the shutters on its branch on Wragby Road in Lincoln.

1

The store which specialises in motoring and cycling products and services will close for the final time on Friday, November 17.

A Halfords spokesperson said: “We can confirm the Halfords store in Lincoln is due to close and staff are aware of the closure.

“The last trading day will be Friday, November 17.

“Customers will still be able to purchase from Halfords.com.

“We are working hard to support all of those affected.”

Halfords has already closed four branches this year, with a spokesperson saying in February it “regularly reviewed” its portfolio.

Branches closed for good include:

• Meadowlands Retail Park, Cambridge
• Halfords Autocentre, Bellman’s Close, Largs
• East Road Retail Park, Irvine
• Stroud, Gloucestershire

It comes after the retailer said its profitability had been knocked by “weakness” in the consumer tyre market.

In July 2020, Halford earmarked 60 stores and garages for closure following a hit in its sales due to coronavirus.

At the time, it operated over 445 stores as well as more than 370 garages in the UK.

The retailer currently runs over 400 shops and over 300 garages.

Why are retailers closing branches?

The cost of living crisis, stubbornly high inflation and energy costs are taking their toll on retailers.

Shoppers have been cutting back spending, while the cost of actually running a store has also increased, meaning some outlets have struggled to keep going.

Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) this summer found the UK had lost 6,000 stores over a five-year period.

Several major brands have also collapsed and closed stores for good.

Wilko‘s fall in August marked the biggest British retail collapse since McColl’s plunged into administration in May last year.

Paperchase collapsed into administration at the end of January this year and all 106 stores closed for good.

Scottish clothing brand M&Co and wellies retailer Joules were among a host of other familiar brands that went bust in 2022.

But shoppers still have reason to be cheerful as other retailers are actually expanding this year.

The Sun recently revealed discount retailer Costco is expanding in the UK and is planning to open 14 more warehouses over the next two years.

Bonmarche is opening at least seven new stores after filing for administration in 2019, while The White Company is due to open new stores in October and November.

Once-huge bakery chain Patisserie Valerie, which also collapsed into administration and closed most of its stores, has started reopening branches, as revealed by the Sun.

Wilko shops are also set to return to the UK high street after the chain collapsed earlier this year.

We also recently revealed bakeries Wenzels, Greggs, Dunkin’ Donuts and The Cornish Bakery are all in the process of expanding in the UK.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk