Poundland has confirmed plans to close its Hailsham branch, after the building’s landlord informed the firm that they have other plans for the location.
Shocked staff were informed of the news on Tuesday, with an extensive closing-down sale starting in the store today (Thursday, 16 October).
Poundland has been undergoing a restructuring process following its parent company Pepco Group, selling the retailer to global advisory firm Gordon Brothers back in June.
The retailer previously confirmed the Hailsham store would remain open, despite plans to reduce the number of Poundland branches from 800 to 650-700 due to a ‘challenging period of trading’.
But following the landlord’s decision, the store in the town’s Quintins Shopping Centre will close on October 29.
Poundland’s UK retail manager Darren MacDonald told Hailsham News: “We know how disappointing it is when we leave a store, but before we close our doors for a final time, we’re determined to say goodbye by offering even more amazing value to customers.
“These special reductions, on top of the value we offer day-in-day-out across our wider network, will help us leave locations like Hailsham with pride. And when our doors close, we’ll look forward to welcoming customers to one of the hundreds of Poundland stores we’ll continue to operate right across the UK.”
Hailsham News spoke to a Poundland staff member who said: “The news came as a shock, and it’s just really sad for us all working here. The store will close its doors on October 29 and then we will be in here for a week clearing things away.
“We knew there was a problem with the lease, but I thought we’d have at least until after Christmas before anything happened and hoped that we’d stay open.
“In the past couple of weeks, we’ve been interviewing for an assistant manager but had to call the successful applicant and tell them they now don’t have a new job to start.”
Following the announcement of Poundland’s closure, disgruntled Hailsham shoppers took to social media to express their anger at what is a huge blow to the town’s High Street.
A spokesperson from Molyneux Rose LLP, acting on behalf of The Quintins, told Hailsham News: “This occurrence is unfortunate, as despite efforts the landlord was unable to get Poundland to stick to the original terms of a lease renewal as agreed with them several months ago.
“This is despite all of the money that the landlord has recently spent on a full refurbishment of the shopping centre; which included external and internal decoration, new lighting and signage, rebranding and a state-of-the-art website, all of which will benefit the occupational retailers and shoppers alike.
“Rest assured, the landlords remain totally committed to Hailsham and have already instructed my firm and a local agent to help identify a quality tenant that will be favourable in terms of tenant mix.”
