Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

[Lost property]

I disagree, good ones have a queue out of the door constantly around here. If a chippy is quiet it’s probably because it’s substandard, and therefore in my opinion is no loss to the world. I would also say that owners of fish and chip shops seem to be much more selective about their opening hours, compared to many competing take away options, so they often don’t help themselves in that respect.

I would also disagree. I accept a good chippy will always have queues, certainly at the popular times, this has always been the case, but these chippy's are far from being substandard....they've just reduced their lunch time / evening opening times due to the overall, not just energy, costs and, to a certain extent, the lack of footfall. There's been several pieces on various news broadcasts highlighting just how perilous these outlets are including some that have closed.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Croydon Council bankrupt for the third time. Has to sell libraries, community hubs and a shopping centre. The shopping centre is the Collonades which is on the A23 near the old airport site - no wonder Croydon are letting the central shopping area run down.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I disagree, good ones have a queue out of the door constantly around here. If a chippy is quiet it’s probably because it’s substandard, and therefore in my opinion is no loss to the world. I would also say that owners of fish and chip shops seem to be much more selective about their opening hours, compared to many competing take away options, so they often don’t help themselves in that respect.

Not opening on a Sunday in particular is throwing business away. They'd be better not opening on a random midweek day like Tuesday. The day I am most likely to want fast food is Sunday when I've got back from somewhere and can't be bothered cooking.

There used to be not a single Sunday chippy in MK, but there are now a few, thankfully.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Nov 2022 ==

Croydon Council bankrupt for the third time. Has to sell libraries, community hubs and a shopping centre. The shopping centre is the Collonades which is on the A23 near the old airport site - no wonder Croydon are letting the central shopping area run down.

To be blamed entirely on capping. Councils need to be able to set Council Tax at a level that funds their outgoings, in connection with proper local democracy on what form the local service package should take and what additional services can be offered on a paid basis. Capping is antidemocratic. It's not at all unusual for people to want to vote Tory nationally but LD/Labour locally because they feel national public services are distant and irrelevant but local ones like their local bus service and bin emptying much more so.

 

[Iskra]

Not opening on a Sunday in particular is throwing business away. They'd be better not opening on a random midweek day like Tuesday. The day I am most likely to want fast food is Sunday when I've got back from somewhere and can't be bothered cooking.

There used to be not a single Sunday chippy in MK, but there are now a few, thankfully.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Nov 2022 ==

I agree, and Sunday is also my most common takeaway day. As someone who frequently works Sundays it’s hard to go the supermarket on Sunday with them only open limited hours, so it’s a good night to have a takeaway. None of my local chippy’s are open on a Sunday.

 

[adrock1976]

Croydon Council bankrupt for the third time. Has to sell libraries, community hubs and a shopping centre. The shopping centre is the Collonades which is on the A23 near the old airport site - no wonder Croydon are letting the central shopping area run down.

Not opening on a Sunday in particular is throwing business away. They'd be better not opening on a random midweek day like Tuesday. The day I am most likely to want fast food is Sunday when I've got back from somewhere and can't be bothered cooking.

There used to be not a single Sunday chippy in MK, but there are now a few, thankfully.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Nov 2022 ==



To be blamed entirely on capping. Councils need to be able to set Council Tax at a level that funds their outgoings, in connection with proper local democracy on what form the local service package should take and what additional services can be offered on a paid basis. Capping is antidemocratic. It's not at all unusual for people to want to vote Tory nationally but LD/Labour locally because they feel national public services are distant and irrelevant but local ones like their local bus service and bin emptying much more so.

See thread I created at https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...and-replaced-with-a-local-service-tax.239880/

 

[jfollows]

Not opening on a Sunday in particular is throwing business away. They'd be better not opening on a random midweek day like Tuesday. The day I am most likely to want fast food is Sunday when I've got back from somewhere and can't be bothered cooking.

There used to be not a single Sunday chippy in MK, but there are now a few, thankfully.

Those of us of a certain age or older probably recall that it used to be illegal to open Fish & Chip takeaway shops on a Sunday. The legislation (Shops Act 1950 & precursor legislation) was specific in what sorts of places could not open, so Chinese takeaway shops which came into vogue after the legislation weren't prohibited from opening. Some more enterprising people opened Chinese takeaways which also sold fish & chips. This all went away in the bodge of legislation in 1994 reforming Sunday trading, which leaves us with large supermarkets and other stores larger than 280 square metres only open for 6 hours on a Sunday, but more sensibly did allow fish & chip shops to open on a Sunday, primarily because they were small enough not to hit the size limit restriction in the legislation.
But, to some extent, the fact that fish & chip shops couldn't open on a Sunday - until the 1994 legislation - possibly to this day feeds the habit that some of them still don't open on a Sunday, because it's what they've always done.

Clement Freud (Isle of Ely) 25 June 1980 (https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1980/jun/25/sunday-trading-laws) supporting an earlier attempt to change the law:

The Bill would allow a fish and chip shop to sell fish and chips on a Sunday. You will know, Mr. Speaker, that at the moment a Chinese take-away can sell fish and chips while a fish and chip shop cannot. The fish and chip shop, on the other hand, may sell Chinese take-away goods on a Sunday.

 

[D6130]

I would also disagree. I accept a good chippy will always have queues, certainly at the popular times, this has always been the case, but these chippy's are far from being substandard....they've just reduced their lunch time / evening opening times due to the overall, not just energy, costs and, to a certain extent, the lack of footfall. There's been several pieces on various news broadcasts highlighting just how perilous these outlets are including some that have closed.

Most - but not all - chippies in this part of the world tend to close early in the evening for two reasons. Firstly, they tend to cater mainly for the more mature traditional market who like to eat their evening meal between about 18 00 and 20 00....and secondly, they wish to avoid the rowdy post-pub customers.

 

[Jimini]

Two very different geographical examples from me. In South Woodford we have three chippies: one the traditional type that opens Tuesday > Sunday and only stays open until 9ish. Proper old chippy that does amazing food. The second one is more of a restaurant on George Lane that doesn't open that late but offers a full sit in restaurant service. Also VG. The third is a takeaway on the High Road that is open until way past midnight, but does kebabs and all that jazz as well. Make sure you pop a loo roll in the fridge for the following day before eating from there

When in Coventry, there's only one shop nearby that does the traditional lunchtime service from midday, then closes from 2:30pm until 5pm, and then stays open until circa 9pm every night. The queues snaking out of that place are something to behold! The denizens of Stivichall / Cheylesmore love their "chippy tea" still, it seems.

 

[Bald Rick]

There’s a new chippy about to open in St Albans, right opposite the back entrance to the station. So I don’t think they are a dying breed here!

 

[Iskra]

Two very different geographical examples from me. In South Woodford we have three chippies: one the traditional type that opens Tuesday > Sunday and only stays open until 9ish. Proper old chippy that does amazing food. The second one is more of a restaurant on George Lane that doesn't open that late but offers a full sit in restaurant service. Also VG. The third is a takeaway on the High Road that is open until way past midnight, but does kebabs and all that jazz as well. Make sure you pop a loo roll in the fridge for the following day before eating from there

When in Coventry, there's only one shop nearby that does the traditional lunchtime service from midday, then closes from 2:30pm until 5pm, and then stays open until circa 9pm every night. The queues snaking out of that place are something to behold! The denizens of Stivichall / Cheylesmore love their "chippy tea" still, it seems.

Chippy’s that sell other cuisines are all wrong and to be avoided at all costs in my experience.

There’s a new chippy about to open in St Albans, right opposite the back entrance to the station. So I don’t think they are a dying breed here!

One opened in Sheffield a couple of months back and did an opening deal of 48p Fish and Chips as that’s what the price of Fish and Chips was when the small chain first started in the 1950’s. Like I’ve already said, it’s not doom and gloom at all for the well-run ones. While the price of fish has risen, people are still willing to pay it, and the profit margin on chips and most other non-fish items sold at a chippy is extremely good.

 

[DelayRepay]

My village isn't big enough to support a chippy, but we used to have a mobile chip shop (a converted van) come once a week.

They sadly ceased trading about a month ago due to rising costs and reduced custom. Their food was always nice, and they always used to be popular but the trade just dried up. On their last night I went at about 6:30pm (they were here from 5pm - 8pm) and she said she'd only had four customers before me

 

[Dai Corner]

Shaws the Drapers enters liquidation after 106 years

About 150 staff are believed to be affected after they were told by email the company will close.

www.bbc.co.uk

A family-owned business with 28 shops in Wales and England has gone into liquidation.

Staff at Shaws the Draper, which sold curtains and home goods, have received an email confirming the closure of the 106-year-old business.

In the message owner Philip Shaw said the business had hoped to restructure after a "challenging year", but decided it was no longer viable.

About 150 staff are believed to be affected.

Shaws has been a fixture on many high streets for decades after opening its first store in Wales in 1916.

Liquidators said the company had been placed into voluntary liquidation and had formally ceased trading on 23 December.

 

[Jamiescott1]

House of fraser seem to be continuing to close stores..wonder if they're reduce to a handful of flagship stores or convert to some sort of sports direct ?

 

[richw]

House of fraser seem to be continuing to close stores..wonder if they're reduce to a handful of flagship stores or convert to some sort of sports direct ?

I went in a sports direct recently, that seemed to now have a mix of sport, a small section of house of Fraser type stuff, and a section of Game. Looks like they’re aiming for an update on department stores

 

[Mojo]

Shaws the Drapers enters liquidation after 106 years

About 150 staff are believed to be affected after they were told by email the company will close.

www.bbc.co.uk

That’s really a shame. I used to travel to Newbury to buy my cloths. But they’re quite rare these days. Cheapest shop in the country for items like that.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

More sad when small family-run business close after 100+ years and it's end of the family line. A jeweller's in my local town shut its doors just before Christmas

 

[Bald Rick]

Cheapest shop in the country for items like that.

That may have been part of the issue?

 

[Mojo]

Does anyone know how Wilkinsons is doing? I saw an article in the paper they are stopping doing lottery tickets which is exactly what happened to Woolworths shortly before they shut down.

I noticed last month they sold their warehouse and HQ on a “sale and leaseback” deal and in addition had to get a cash injection. Their MD and CEO have both resigned in the past month.

For the last two years their stock control seems to have been abysmal with many gaps but in the past few months it’s been really quite bad with many basics missing - I’ve been trying to get hold of their stain remover for months now. Went into a London branch on Wednesday and they had complete sections with empty shelves - and these weren’t the Christmas sections (these have been replaced with gardening supplies which are fully stocked) - but basics like cleaning.

 

[Dai Corner]

Does anyone know how Wilkinsons is doing? I saw an article in the paper they are stopping doing lottery tickets which is exactly what happened to Woolworths shortly before they shut down.

For the last two years their stock control seems to have been abysmal with many gaps but in the past few months it’s been really quite bad with many basics missing - I’ve been trying to get hold of their stain remover for months now. Went into a London branch on Wednesday and they had complete sections with empty shelves - and these weren’t the Christmas sections (these have been replaced with gardening supplies which are fully stocked) - but basics like cleaning.

My local branch has closed an entire floor, probably at least half of their sales area.

 

[gabrielhj07]

GTR by a mile

 

[that1pepfan]

House of Fraser where I'm from I think they've shut down now it *MAY* be open still

House of fraser seem to be continuing to close stores..wonder if they're reduce to a handful of flagship stores or convert to some sort of sports direct ?

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Does anyone know how Wilkinsons is doing? I saw an article in the paper they are stopping doing lottery tickets which is exactly what happened to Woolworths shortly before they shut down.

I haven't heard anything about how Wilkos are doing, but over the last couple of years they have closed two of their four shops in my part of SE London (Woolwich and Erith, leaving Thamesmead and Bexleyheath open), so I guess their customer base must be shrinking.

Unlike Woolworths, they do have much more of a solid thing that they are really good at - and I don't think they really have any competitors on the High Street for good-value homeware, so I'd be pretty surprised if they went completely. I'd be very sad too, because I do find them very useful.

 

[that1pepfan]

Lost our debinhams last year, have all stores in UK shut or just some

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Dec 2022 ==

I haven't heard anything about how Wilkos are doing, but over the last couple of years they have closed two of the four shops in my part of SE London (Woolwich and Erith), so I guess their customer base must be shrinking.

Unlike Woolworths, they do have much more of a solid thing that they are really good at - and I don't think they really have any competitors on the High Street for good-value homeware, so I'd be pretty surprised if they went completely. I'd be very sad too, because I do find them very useful.

The one in Worthing is never not busy when I have been

 

[swt_passenger]

Lost our debinhams last year, have all stores in UK shut or just some

All the “Debenhams” branded physical, (ie high st), stores closed in May 2021. The trading name was bought by some other firm intending a web based operation, but I haven’t kept up with recent changes.

 

[that1pepfan]

All the “Debenhams” branded physical, (ie high st), stores closed in May 2021. The trading name was bought by some other firm intending a web based operation, but I haven’t kept up with recent changes.

Sorry I can't spell lol

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Dec 2022 ==

Our one (Brighton) had a lovely cafe it was in the shopping centre
Shut down some point last year and it's still empty .
John Lewes aparently coming

 

[Steddenm]

Debenhams is now owned by Boohoo and has a beauty store open in Manchester

https://www.debenhams.com/page/beauty-store-manchester

Also, oddly in Manchester there is a BhS open - but only sells lighting.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[SuspectUsual]

For the last two years their stock control seems to have been abysmal with many gaps but in the past few months it’s been really quite bad with many basics missing

Some of their suppliers have reluctantly put them on cash up front terms, because they can’t get credit insurance for the Wilko account. In turn, Wilko are struggling to find the cash flow to buy from these suppliers. Obviously this can be something of a vicious circle, as news of suppliers getting the jitters can travel far and wide very quickly

 

[Mojo]

Some of their suppliers have reluctantly put them on cash up front terms, because they can’t get credit insurance for the Wilko account. In turn, Wilko are struggling to find the cash flow to buy from these suppliers. Obviously this can be something of a vicious circle, as news of suppliers getting the jitters can travel far and wide very quickly

Thanks for the insight - doesn’t sound good at all. Would be a huge loss for such a useful shop.

I asked the staff in a branch back in the summer and they basically said they don’t know when deliveries are due and when they do come they don’t know what’s on the lorries!

 

[Hadders]

Does anyone know how Wilkinsons is doing? I saw an article in the paper they are stopping doing lottery tickets which is exactly what happened to Woolworths shortly before they shut down.

I noticed last month they sold their warehouse and HQ on a “sale and leaseback” deal and in addition had to get a cash injection. Their MD and CEO have both resigned in the past month.

For the last two years their stock control seems to have been abysmal with many gaps but in the past few months it’s been really quite bad with many basics missing - I’ve been trying to get hold of their stain remover for months now. Went into a London branch on Wednesday and they had complete sections with empty shelves - and these weren’t the Christmas sections (these have been replaced with gardening supplies which are fully stocked) - but basics like cleaning.

They've been struggling.

They recently sold and leased back a distribution centre to DHL for £48 million to help shore up their balance sheet. They've also recently drafted in advisory experts from Teneo to cut costs across the business in the face of the cost-of-living crisis.

The Chief Executive stood down earlier this month with immediate effect, with a new CEO joining from Bensons Beds.

 

[swt_passenger]

Also, oddly in Manchester there is a BhS open - but only sells lighting.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

I always thought lighting was something BHS were pretty good at, back when the high street was the main choice...

I did notice though that there’s no reference to “BHS” on the current “litecraft.co.uk” website though, has the link with BHS been severed?