Map shows full list of Dobbies Garden Centres closing after more stores added

Dobbies Garden Centres is set to close two more of its stores due to falling customer numbers.

The retailer has already shut 16 of its outlets since mid-December, most recently the Leicester branch, which served its final customers yesterday.

Other recent closures include stores in Rugby, Stapleton, Morpeth, Havant, which all shut on January 19, and Hare Hatch which closed on January 31.

The next two shops getting the axe are based in Aylesbury, closing at the end of February (the exact date has not been released) and Northampton, closing on March 2.

The company’s flagship store in Antrim was earmarked for closure in previous plans, but survived the cut and will remain open.

In a statement which surprised shoppers back in September, Dobbies outlined their intentions to shut several of their sites across the UK with the aim of returning to ‘sustainable profitability.’

According to its most recently filed company accounts, Dobbies had a huge drop in sales and fell to a £105.2million pre-tax loss in the year to March 2023, against a £7million loss a year earlier, reports the MailOnline.

A company spokesperson said in October: ‘We’re pleased to have worked constructively with landlords on the Restructuring Plan.

‘The approval of the RP means we can now be focused on the future, building a strong platform for a return to sustainable profitability in our stores across the UK.

‘Thank you to all our colleagues, customers and suppliers who supported us during this process.’

Along with the main Dobbie stores, six Little Dobbies have also closed recently. They are located in Bristol, Richmond, Cheltenham, Edinburgh Stockbridge, Chiswick and Westbourne Grove.

Dobbies isn’t the only gardening business struggling. British Garden Centres development and project manager Amy Stubbs told Retail Gazette the entire gardening sector has taken a hit.

Speaking last year she said that the flip-flopping weather has especially caused havoc.

‘It almost feels like any time it’s had a chance to start, the weather has then ruined it and it’s gone backwards again. It’s just been very stop-start,’ she said.

Other high street retailers have also been feeling the strain, with several well-known firms, from Homebase to WHSmiths, shutting stores in February.

You can see our full list here.

A version of this article was first published on October 1, 2024

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: From bacteria to beanless chocolate: What will we be eating by 2050?

MORE: Map reveals coldest places in UK today with rare weather event on the way

MORE: Much loved fast food chain axing 38 more restaurants after closing 150