SHOPPERS have been left gutted after a major discounter announced it is closing one of its stores within weeks.
It comes as the supermarket chain prepares to shutter four more branches this month, but also amid major expansion plans.
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Lidl will welcome customers into its branch in High Street, Hanham, Bristol, for the final time on March 1, after opening 26 years ago.
Customers next nearest branches will be in Lawrence Hill, Longwell Green and Kingswood.
A spokesperson for the retailer said it was closing the Hanham branch as the site was too small to allow for a store extension.
They added: “Whilst it’s proposed our Hanham store, which is 26 years old, will be closing from Friday, March 1, we hope to continue welcoming customers to one of our other nearby stores.”
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News of the Hanham branch closure has been with devastation from locals, with one branding it their “go-to” shop.
Another said: “It’s so sad for those who walk there with no car or are elderly.
“I worried with the Longwell Green store opening it would only be a matter of time before the Hanham store would close.”
Meanwhile, a third added: “Will really miss it now I am unable to drive.
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“Don’t mind walking down to the next Lidl but it’s walking back with the goods which is frustrating!!!”
It comes with Lidl set to close four further branches across the UK this month.
The retailer will be shuttering its store in Paignton, Devon, on February 4, followed by its branch in Kentish Town, London, on February 11.
Two branches in Bradford and Layland, Lancashire, will pull down their shutters for good on February 29.
But it’s not all bad news for the supermarket chain as it also has major expansion plans in the works.
In April last year, the retailer, which had 950 UK sites at the time, said it wanted to open hundreds of new locations across the UK.
It also set a new store target of 1,100 stores by the end of 2025, creating 4,000 jobs in the process.
Meanwhile, Lidl employees are set to be the best-paid supermarket staff when a pay boost kicks in in March.
Store and warehouse workers in London will earn up to £13.85 an hour, and those in the rest of the country £13 an hour.
New workers will get £13.55 an hour in London, up from £12.85, and £12 outside the capital, up from £11.40.
Why are retailers closing stores?
The reason why shops are closing is not the same for every retailer, as each faces its own unique challenges.
But there are some central issues which have been piling pressure on businesses in recent years, namely high energy costs.
High inflation has seen shoppers’ pockets squeezed too, meaning they have less expandable cash to spend.
Meanwhile, the shift to online shopping has amplified pressure on the high street and retail parks.
Recent figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed over 10,000 shops closed for the last time in 2023, and almost 120,000 jobs were lost across the sector.
A number of notable retailers closed stores, including Boots, which is massively consolidating its portfolio of branches from 2,200 to 1,900.
Iconic names Wilko and Paperchase both fell into administration last year too, with thousands of staff laid off.
Other retailers have closed stores between them, including Iceland, New Look and the Original Factory Shop.
However, it’s not all bad news for the high street, with a number of retailers opening stores across the UK.
B&M, which currently runs over 650 UK stores, recently announced plans to open 17 more across January and February.
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Asda also plans to open 21 new locations before the end of the month as well.
The retailer said it wants to have 1,000 stores running across the UK and Northern Ireland by March this year.
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