AN iconic high street retailer with 1,400 UK stores is set to close its shop in a seaside town centre.
WHSmith is preparing to shut its Bournemouth town centre location early next year as shoppers cried “another bites the dust”.
Sources close to the business have revealed that WHSmith is set to close its Old Christchurch Road branch, possibly as soon as January.
While the company has not officially confirmed the closure, a spokesperson hinted at the possibility, The Bournemouth Echo reports.
They said: “We keep our store lease agreements under regular review, including at our Old Christchurch Road store in Bournemouth and will share updates on any changes to the store in future.”
In another setback for Bournemouth’s town centre, the soon-to-be-vacant unit is already being advertised by estate agents Goadsby.
The shop is available for rent at £150,000 per annum, with terms open to negotiation.
The Post Office inside the store, however, will remain operational for now, though its future is uncertain.
A Post Office spokesperson confirmed they have not yet received any closure notice from WH Smith.
Bournemouth residents have reacted to the closure on Facebook, with one user commenting: “Another shop of Bournemouth bites the dust!! Shame.”
Another added: “Honestly not surprised, know one really shops in Bournemouth, there’s more shops in Poole, Bournemouth is mainly coffee shops and restaurants then places to actually do any shopping.
“I’d rather go to Poole or Southampton if I need anything.”
A third replied: “Omg soon [there will] be nothing left. Dead town.”
While another person wrote: “WHSmiths has failed to update with the times, it will only get worse.”
WHSmith is closing a number of branches across the UK as it looks to extend its arm into the travel sector.
The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shuttered eight stores since March 2023, including in Manchester and Bicester, England.
Meanwhile, the stationer has waved goodbye to branches in Oban, Scotland, and Ramsgate, Kent.
But it also comes amid a time of expansion for the chain, which is opening 15 branches at airports and train stations in 2024 in a boost for shoppers.
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