Dobbies has confirmed it will close 12 of its stores after its restructuring plan was approved by the Court of Session in Scotland.
The garden centre chain announced that it will exit the leases of 10 loss-making sites, while two additional stores in Morpeth and Stapleton will be transferred to other garden centre operators.
A spokesperson for Dobbies commented: “We’re pleased to have worked constructively with landlords on the Restructuring Plan (RP).
“The approval of the RP means we can now focus on the future, building a strong platform for a return to sustainable profitability in our stores across the UK. We’d like to thank all our colleagues, customers, and suppliers who supported us during this process.”
Dobbies also revealed that its flagship store in Antrim, which had previously been earmarked for closure, will remain open following an agreement with the landlord.
At the end of September, the retailer stated that it planned to close 17 unprofitable stores, including 11 mainline stores and six Little Dobbies, before the end of the year. This move is expected to affect 465 of its 3,600 employees.
The garden centre chain explained that the restructuring plan, along with other strategic initiatives, would “enable Dobbies to return to sustainable profitability, unlock access to future investment, and deliver a strong and well-capitalised platform for the business moving forward.”
The stores set to close are:
- Altrincham – December 17
- Gloucester – December 15
- Gosforth – December 19
- Harlestone Heath – December 17
- Huntingdon – TBC
- Inverness – December 23
- King’s Lynn – December 15
- Pennine – December 15
- Reading – December 23
- Stratford-upon-Avon – December 23
