
Mystery as British high street giant suddenly shuts doors to popular seaside branch with NO explanation
SHOP SHOCK Mystery as British high street giant suddenly shuts doors to popular seaside branch with NO explanation
AN ICONIC high street store has suddenly shut for good in a popular seaside branch.
Shoppers, were shocked to find the doors locked and a notice posted on its shop door announcing its closure.
1
Mystery as British high street giant suddenly shuts doors to popular seaside branch with no explanation
Credit: Google
Closed down
FatFace, on Old Christchurch Road, in Bournemouth closed its doors on July 19.
A sign posted on the doors read: "Thank you for shopping in our Bournemouth store.
"This store is now closed. Find us at FatFace.com".
A QR code also takes smartphone users to its website but offers no additional detail of the closure.
A chalkboard put inside the shop, blocking the doors, says "thank you for shopping with us!" and features drawings and hearts.
Products are still on the shelves and hung on stands inside reports The BournemouthEcho
FatFace was founded by Tim Slade in 1988 selling T-shirts at the French ski resort Méribel and opened its first retail store in London in 1993.
Peterborough closure
The closure comes after the business announced it would be shutting its Peterborough branch on June 15,
The closure came 20 months after FatFace, which was founded in 1988, was acquired by the leading clothing retailer Next, headquartered in Leicester.
The announcement for the Peterborough branch was made a few weeks prior to its final day.
BrewDog to close TEN pubs across UK as staff set to be axed
Sharing the news on the We Love Peterborough Facebook group, shoppers were dismayed at the closure.
One said: "I have to say it's shame to see that Fat Face will be closing down in Queensgate.
"After speaking with someone in the store for confirmation, I'm afraid that they are not moving to an alternative location either, they are closing permanently for us."
FatFace announced a pre-tax loss of £3.2 million last October, which was in part attributed to costs related to the acquisition.
Why are retailers closing stores?
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025."
It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024.
End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker.
It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date.
This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023.
It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns.
The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker.
Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations.
Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes.
Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
"By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
FatFace responds
A FatFace spokesperson said: 'We can confirm our Bournemouth store closed on July 19.
"We're focusing on supporting our store colleagues at this time and, where possible, looking at redeployment opportunities.
"We'd like to thank all customers who have shopped with us for their support over the years'.
No reason was given for the Bournemouth closure and a similar message was given for the Peterborough closure.
A FatFace spokesperson told The Sun at the time: 'We can confirm our Queensgate Shopping Centre store in Peterborough will be closing, with the last day of trade on 15th June 2025.
"We're focusing on supporting our store colleagues at this time and, where possible, looking at redeployment opportunities.
"We'd like to thank all customers who have shopped with us for their support over the years'.
Meanwhile, Poundland has revealed a full list of 25 stores shutting doors for good as part of mass restructuring – is your local shutting?

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Major broadband firm with 100,000 customers axing free service in days
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR broadband firm with hundreds of thousands of customers is axing a free service in days. All TalkTalk email customers are being moved to a new provider called Everymail from Open-Xchange. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 TalkTalk is axing a free service for hundreds of thousands of customers in days Credit: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett The company began to email customers in June to let them know that if they do not sign up to the new provider then their email account will be closed. TalkTalk broadband customers will be able to continue to use the email service for free. But those who received a TalkTalk email when they first signed up to the broadband company but later switched to another provider will need to pay a £60-a-year fee. TalkTalk will gradually close the inboxes of customers who do not pay the fee over the next few months. It will start to restrict customers' email access after July 31, which means they will not be able to send emails but will still be able to access ones they have already received. Those who do not sign up by September 9 will have their mailboxes frozen. After October 31 their email address, inbox, contacts and calendar will be erased. Once the accounts are deleted they cannot be recovered. Any emails that are sent to the account will automatically return to the sender. TalkTalk told The Sun that it will contact users several times before it shuts their account. It will either ask them to take action to keep their email address or download important information that they can transfer to another email provider. This includes emails they have sent or received, saved contacts, calendar appointments and tasks. TalkTalk said the changes will give customers 'the best user experience'. It added: 'We are actively communicating with all those affected. We are providing several options and users are free to download and transfer their data.' Free email providers WORRIED about your email being tied to your internet provider? There are plenty of excellent free email services you can use instead. Here are a few popular choices: Examples include: Gmail: Google's offering is feature-rich, with plenty of storage and excellent spam filtering. Integrates seamlessly with other Google services. Google's offering is feature-rich, with plenty of storage and excellent spam filtering. Integrates seamlessly with other Google services. Microsoft's webmail service offers a clean interface and integrates with Microsoft Office applications. Good storage options are available. Microsoft's webmail service offers a clean interface and integrates with Microsoft Office applications. Good storage options are available. Yahoo! Mail: A long-standing provider with a large storage capacity. It includes a built-in newsfeed. Proton Mail: For those prioritising privacy, Proton Mail offers end-to-end encryption. Based in Switzerland, it has strong data protection laws (free but limited storage). For those prioritising privacy, Proton Mail offers end-to-end encryption. Based in Switzerland, it has strong data protection laws (free but limited storage). GMX Mail: Offers a good balance of features and storage space. Includes a spam filter and virus protection. What do I need to do? If you are happy to pay the £5 a month fee then you should sign up before July 31 to avoid any issues with your email inbox. But if you are unwilling to pay then you can download your emails now to avoid losing access to them. You can then upload them to a new account with a different company. Exactly how to do this varies depending on your email provider but you should be able to find help on its website. It is a good idea to set up an email address that is separate from your broadband provider to avoid being locked into the account. Once you have created a new email you should make sure to update all of your bank, supermarket, energy and utility accounts. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories


Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Donald Trump hits course at Turnberry for second round of golf on visit to Scotland
DON THE COURSE Donald Trump hits course at Turnberry for second round of golf on visit to Scotland Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DONALD Trump has teed off for a second round of golf this morning at his luxury Turnberry resort. The President was spotted out on the Ayrshire course sporting the USA white baseball cap he was wearing yesterday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Donald Trump has teed off for another round of golf at Turnberry Credit: AP 8 The President is sporting the same white USA baseball cap he was wearing yesterday Credit: AFP 8 The President has been joined by son Eric again this morning Credit: Getty 8 His other son Donald Trump Jr was also spotted on the course with wife Vanessa Credit: AFP The Republican leader arrived at around 11.06am at the coastal course in Girvan, Ayrshire. Police were seen patrolling the golf course as associates of Trump played a round of golf earlier in the morning. A huge motorcade of golf buggies arrived just before 10.40am. Trump was spotted driving his own golf buggie as he gave a wave to the media. He was also seen in action taking a chip shot onto one of the greens. The President is also joined by his son Eric again this morning on the Ailsa course, as well as his other son Donald Trump Jr. Today, he will meet European Commission Ursula von der Leyen for talks on the trading relationship between Europe and the US. The talks come ahead of discussions with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday, which are also expected to focus on the issue of trade. The UK and the US struck a trade deal recently, with discussions between the two men expected to focus on this - with reports suggesting Sir Keir will be looking for the US to cut the tariffs for British steel. The start of discussions show the US President getting down to business on what is a private, five-day visit to Scotland. Donald Trump touches down in Scotland On Saturday he was spotted playing a round at the famous Turnberry course, which he purchased back in 2014. A massive security operation was in place as the President played golf on the course. He drove his own golf buggy, but a heavy security presence saw Mr Trump flanked by a fleet of similar vehicles. Even before he took to the course, police officers and military personnel could be seen searching the area around the Trump Turnberry resort - which has had a metal fence erected around it as part of heightened security measures. No protesters were seen while he was golfing on Saturday - but hundreds of people gathered in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen for demonstrations against his visit organised by the Stop Trump Coalition. After spending some time at his South Ayrshire resort, the President will head to Aberdeenshire, where he is expected to open a second course at his Trump International golf resort in Balmedie. During his time in the north-east, Mr Trump is also due to meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney. 8 Donald Trump made an appearance at his Trump Turnberry golf course as he teed off this morning Credit: Reuters 8 A massive security operation was in place as the President played golf on the course Credit: PA 8 Police were seen patrolling the golf course as associates of Trump played a round of golf earlier in the morning Credit: AP


North Wales Live
6 hours ago
- North Wales Live
Pledge to give UK's pubs and venues a helping hand as closures continue
Ministers have pledged to make it easier to open new bars, music venues and cafes as part of plans to rejuvenate high streets. An industry body warned earlier in July that the equivalent of more than one pub per day will close across Great Britain this year, pointing to high bills and taxes. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) estimated that 378 pubs will close this year across England, Wales and Scotland, which it said would amount to more than 5,600 direct job losses. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said she wants to 'protect pavement pints' as a new licensing framework will also fast-track permissions for al fresco dining in dedicated areas as the Government looks to modernise planning rules. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now The Government wants to make it easier to convert disused shops into venues, and dedicated 'hospitality zones' will be brought forward that could see permissions for outside dining, street parties and extended opening hours pushed through quickly. Developers will also be made responsible for soundproofing buildings they construct near pubs or clubs, to protect existing venues from noise complaints. How any changes would relate to Wales' devolved administration is unclear at this stage. The Government has said the plans will be subject to a call for evidence. The Business Secretary has said that 'red tape has stood in the way of people's business ideas for too long'. Jonathan Reynolds MP said: 'This Government has a plan to replace shuttered up shops with vibrant places to socialise, turning them into thriving cafes or busy bars, which support local jobs and give people a place to get together and catch up over a beer or a coffee. 'Red tape has stood in the way of people's business ideas for too long. Today we're slashing those barriers to giving small business owners the freedom to flourish.' Ms Reeves said that 'pubs and bars are at the heart of British life'. 'For too long, they've been stifled by clunky, outdated rules. We're binning them, to protect pavement pints, al fresco dining and street parties – not just for the summer, but all year round,' she added. An industry body warned earlier in July that the equivalent of more than one pub per day will close across Great Britain this year, pointing to high bills and taxes. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) estimated that 378 pubs will close this year across England, Wales and Scotland, which it said would amount to more than 5,600 direct job losses. The projected 2025 figures compare with 350 closures in 2024. Bar chain Brewdog announced this week that it would close 10 of its venues, as chief executive James Taylor told staff it is partly in response to 'rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures'. Representatives of the hospitality industry welcomed the changes but said they should go hand in hand with a cut to business rates as cost pressures threaten to 'tax out of existence' some businesses. Kate Nicholls, chairwoman of UKHospitality, said: 'We strongly welcome these proposals to cut red tape and make it easier to open and operate hospitality venues, create jobs and grow the economy. 'But positive and encouraging as these measures certainly are, they can't on their own offset the immediate and mounting cost pressures facing hospitality businesses which threaten to tax out of existence the businesses and jobs that today's announcement seeks to support.' Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: 'After bringing together key voices in the pubs and the wider hospitality sector, it's great news that many of the industry's recommendations on how best to cut red-tape and support growth will be acted on. 'These changes must go hand in hand with meaningful business rates reform, mitigating staggering employment costs, and a cut in beer duty so that pubs can thrive at the heart of the community.' Andrew Griffith MP, shadow business secretary, said: 'Though any cutting of red tape for hospitality businesses is welcome, this is pure hypocrisy and inconsistency from Labour.' He said the Government was 'crippling the hospitality industry by doubling business rates, imposing a jobs tax and a full-on strangulation of employment red tape'. 'As the result, shorter opening hours, shedding jobs and expensive pints are becoming the norm.'