Latest news with #WorcesterNews
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Major high street retailer shuts another UK store after launching huge 50% clearance sale
A CITY centre shop has closed for the last time but the space has already been earmarked to be taken over by another retailer. Smiggle in Chapel Walk, formerly Crowngate, in Worcester has now ceased trading in the city. 1 The stationery store started advertising an end-of-lease sale earlier this month in an attempt to clear stock ahead of its closing. The store's last day of trading was June 25. It has been revealed that the shop unit will be refurbished and reopen under a new retailer, according to Worcester News. Further details though have not yet been released. Earlier this month, the Smiggle branch in Coney Street, York, also closed its doors for the final time. A 50% discount sale had been launched to help shift stock before the store closed for good. It was reported in YorkshireLive that the decision to close the children's store came after the landlord decided not to renew the lease. However it is not all bad news as a new Smiggle branch is set to open in York Designer Outlet this July. It comes as the Australian business has announced plans to close a number of other stores across the UK. A Cwmbran Shopping Centre will pull down its shutters for the final time in August. Why are so many shops going bust? Meanwhile two other branches closed in back in May. A store in the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness, shut its doors on May 21. While a store in the Darwin Centre, Shrewsbury, closed on May 25. In January 2024, the brand also closed a site in Dundee, Scotland. HIGH STREET STRUGGLES Smiggle is not the only retailer struggling on the high street amid the surge of online shopping and weaker household budgets. Hobbycraft shut nine stores on June 21 after launching closing down sales. Dobbies has also closed a slew of garden centres across the UK this year. The Centre for Retail Research is predicting more than 17,000 retail shops will shut in 2025 too. The centre has forecast a rise in closures after a hike to employer National Insurance contributions and the national minimum wage which took effect in April. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. 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." Professor Bamfield has also 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."
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Best things about living in Worcester revealed by locals - do you agree?
Worcestershire is home to lots of pleasant areas, and Worcester was recently named one of the happiest places to live by The Guardian. But what makes the city so special? To find out, we asked Worcester News readers to share what they think are the best things about living in Worcester. From the countryside to the restaurants, here's what locals said they like best about living in Worcester. The Guardian said: 'This West Midlands city has beautiful cobbled streets as well as dozens of shops and restaurants, and plenty to see and do. The beautiful Worcester Cathedral dominates the city centre – King John is among the historical figures buried there.' It added that there is a 'low crime rate' and that it's 'affordable' when 'compared with many other cities'. See the full list of Britain's happiest places to live via The Guardian's website. One local listed several things that make Worcester a 'great' place to live, including its countryside: 'Beautiful canals, the river, parks, museums, countryside, wildlife, cafes, entertainment, festivals and concerts, museums, great restaurants and bars and plenty of them are sole traders, history, architecture, safety generally peaceful. 'Good schools and education, hobby and community groups... 'Pretty great place to live'. Another local agreed, adding: 'and beautiful people !' This person said: 'If you take time to look around the city you'll find it's lovely. Great walks along the river and beautiful old buildings. There are a lot worse places than here!' Another local shared: 'Always love the walk from town across the bridge. The cathedral view and the riverside walk are wonderful'. Someone who lived in Worcester but has since moved abroad said: 'I'm living abroad now but Worcester is a good place to live. Fantastic architecture and historic buildings. 'It's better than a lot of places that's for sure.' Someone agreed, sharing: 'not wrong there mate I now live in the usa. worcester is gorgeous if you take the time to enjoy it. if you take your head out of your phone and look up at what history we have and beautiful nature then maybe you would enjoy it more.' Recommended reading: Best villages to visit for a day out near Worcester according to locals This is Worcester's highest-rated cafe and it serves 'the best coffee' 'Must-visit' Worcestershire pub has one of the UK's best beer gardens This person shared: 'Their is lots to do in the parks and city centre, their a fabulous atmosphere in city and everyone is so friendly.' Another local said: 'The music and theatre scene and how the cathedral dominates city spreading love and kindness and a space to reflect'. What do you like most about living in Worcester? Let us know in the comments.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Best villages to visit for a day out near Worcester according to locals
Are you looking for a bit of inspiration when it comes to days out near Worcester? As the weather becomes warmer, you might be wondering where you can explore and enjoy your free time. Some local knowledge is always handy so we asked Worcester News readers which village is the best for a day out near the city. To give you some day trip inspiration, we've combed through the results and found the best villages to visit – let's take a look. Lots of places were mentioned when we asked readers the all-important question in 2024 and a few villages got multiple votes. However, one village stood out from the rest. The best village for day trips near Worcester is Malvern, according to our readers. One local said: 'Malvern if u fancy nice food hillside pizza'. Whether you want to get out in the fresh air for a walk or stop for a bite to eat during your day in Malvern, the village has plenty to offer. Recommended reading: 5 of the best pubs to visit near the Malvern Hills Prettiest village pubs you can visit for a pint and some grub in Worcestershire 5 of the best farm shops you can visit across Worcestershire this spring The likes of Bewdley also proved popular with our readers with one saying: 'Bewdley. Nice walks, nice pubs and restaurants, little museum that my kids love, a ice cream shop that kids love too and chip shop that I love but really shouldn't have', adding a laughing crying face emoji. One local couldn't decide between two villages, writing: 'Broadway. Or Malvern.' Ombersley and Hartlebury are among the other villages mentioned in the comments section of our Facebook post. Do you agree? Let us know in the comments.
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Schoolhouse transformed into two homes is for sale with a price tag of £130,000 - but there's a catch
An old school building has been put on the market as two homes - but their 'attractive price' comes with a catch. The former schoolhouse near Worcester is on the market as a pair of semi-detached homes for £130,000. The first - ironically titled Number 2 - boasts of a canopy porch, hallways, reception room, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. While the second - also known as Number 3 - has a reception room, kitchen area, hall, shower room and three bedrooms, as well as a garden space. Beyond that, both homes offer little else. Exposed floorboards, peeling wallpaper, and a partly gutted kitchen have been put on offer as what can only be described as a fixer-upper. Stairs with the carpet notably ripped up and water stained cupboards were also on show. The sales brochure admitted that both 'are in need of improvement works throughout' but did have electric heating and double glazing. Jonathan Hackett, consultant director at Bond Wolfe, told Worcester News: 'These two vacant, semi-detached homes were the result of the conversion of an old schoolhouse some years ago. 'Number 2 has a canopy porch, hall, reception room, inner hall, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom with a shower on the ground floor, with a landing and second bedroom upstairs. 'Number 3 has an entrance hall, shower room with toilet, inner hall, reception room and dining kitchen on the ground floor, with a landing and three bedrooms upstairs. 'There are gardens outside, plus the properties have electric heating and double-glazing, however they are in need of improvement works throughout.' The Acton Green property is on auction May 15. It comes less than a week after another unusual abode came on the market in Swanage, Dorset. A former police station was put up for sale for £1.2million with its original front desk and charge rooms as well as a series of cells with wooden beds. In the listing for the property, estate agents have described it as an 'excellent redevelopment site' with planning permission to convert it into three three-bed flats and three four-bed homes. The listing goes on to say: 'The property is situated on a prominent site about one third of a mile level distance from the town centre and beach. 'Swanage lies at the Eastern tip of the Isle of Purbeck, delightfully situated between the Purbeck Hills. 'It has a fine, safe, sandy beach, and is an attractive mixture of old stone cottages and more modern properties, all of which blend in well with the peaceful surroundings. 'To the South is Durlston Country Park renowned for being the gateway to the Jurassic Coast and World Heritage Coastline.' This station joins a list of odd things which have gone up for sale and it is far from the most unusual thing up for grabs. As previously reported, a Cold War-era former observation bunker on the edge of the royal estate at Sandringham in Norfolk went up for auction last month. The Dersingham Royal Observer Corps post was once part of a large network of observation posts up and down the country which were constructed as part of an early warning system to detect impending nuclear attacks and calculate their impact. The Dersingham post is buried in the land on the north-east side of Chalk Pit Road and has been well-preserved. The site was built in 1957 and has two components: a concrete orlit hut above ground and a hidden bunker underground. Both structures were completed due to the heightened threat of nuclear war at the time.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Red Nose Day: Worcester pupils don 80s gear for Comic Relief
RED NOSE Day is here and children across Worcester have been getting involved and dressing up for the occasion. To celebrate 40 years of Comic Relief, many have opted for a 'back to the 80s' theme, with school pupils donning their best neon colours, legwarmers and multicoloured shell suits. Celebrities, films and music from the decade have inspired some of this year's outfits, including Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Back to the Future. Parents from across the city have snapped photos of their children's creative outfits and have sent them to Worcester News. Here is what Worcester pupils have worn to celebrate Red Nose Day this year: Layla-Mae,11 and Nancie-Mai, 6 (Image: Terri Locke) Leo Bailey, 6 (Image: Lisa Pugh) Lukas Dixon, 5 (Image: Carla Pelz) Tayah-Rose, 6, and Theo-Jay, 4 (Image: Courtney Harris) Amelia, 9 (Image: Hannah Fennell) Zac, 7 and Millie, 5 (Image: Bekky Sheppard) Poppy, 5 (Image: Carla Mason) Alfie West, 5 (Image: Sarahjane West) Kobe Baker, 4 (Image: Keeley Fowler) blah Oliver, 5 and Izabelle, 10 (Image: Sam Coombes) Eva-Grace Collins, 6 (Image: Chelsey Collins) Skyla-Mae Bailey, 3 (Image: Lisa Pugh) Willow-Rose,10 (Image: Abbi Smith) Conni Windiate, 7 (Image: Carly-Marie Smith) Skye Sinclair (Image: Kelly Marie) Sydney, 8 and Dougie, 6 (Image: Hev Beckstein) Danni-Lou, 9 (Image: Katie Thomasson) Willow Upton, 4, Bailey Monk, 8 and Chester Upton, 5 (Image: Rachel Brown) Noah, 6 (Image: Charlene Waring) Lara-Mai, 9 and Lettie, 3 (Image: Jodie Stanley) Lucy, 6 and Macie, 9 (Image: Jess Jane Ferrier) Freddie Harvey, 4 (Image: Beccie Bradshaw) Lillie Collins, 7 (Image: Haylie Gretton) Lottie, 11 (Image: Hannah Walkley) Bella, 6, Leia-Rae, 7 and Nala, 5 (Image: Gina Graham) Harley and Callum Ward, 9 with their little brother Reece Ward, 3 Archie (Image: Supplied)
