Major backyard retailer famed for Christmas decorations set to shut 16 shops earlier than 2025

Dobbies has confirmed it is closing 16 stores before Christmas. The garden centre chain famed for its festive decorations previously unveiled plans to shut 17 branches, 11 bigger locations and six smaller Little Dobbies.

A site in Antrim, Northern Ireland, which was earmarked to shut, will no longer close following negotiations with the landlord. Sadly, all six Little Dobbies have closed their doors while six of the larger stores now have proposed final dates.

There are reportedly closing down sales being held at the four remaining larger Dobbies stores. The garden centre chain previously said the restructuring plans would affect 465 of their 3,600 employees.

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Before the closures, the chain had 77 stories across the UK. A spokesperson for Dobbies previously said: “Subject to the restructuring plan being successfully approved, we expect the affected sites to cease trading by the end of the year.

“Thereafter, Dobbies will operate 60 stores and continue to play a key role in the market, working constructively with stakeholders and suppliers, and having an active and committed role in the communities in which it’s based.”

Dobbies was purchased by investment firm Ares Management last year after it fell to a £105.2million pre-tax loss in the year to March 2023.

Full list of already shut Little Dobbies

• Little Dobbies – Bristol – already closed

• Little Dobbies – Richmond – already closed

• Little Dobbies – Cheltenham – already closed

• Little Dobbies – Edinburgh Stockbridge – already closed

• Little Dobbies – Chiswick – already closed

• Little Dobbies – Westbourne Grove – already closed

Full list of Dobbies set to close

• Dobbies – Pennine – December 15

• Dobbies – Kings Lynn – December 15

• Dobbies – Gloucester – December 15

• Dobbies – Harlestone Heath – December 17

• Dobbies – Altrincham – December 17

• Dobbies – Gosforth – December 19/20

The following are said to be holding closing down sales, without a specific closure date listed:

• Huntingdon
• Inverness
• Reading
• Stratford on Avon

Dobbies is also seeking to reduce its rent at the following further nine stores:

• Aylesbury – World’s End
• Hare Hatch
• Havant
• Leicester
• Lelant
• Morpeth
• Northampton
• Rugby
• Stapleton

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