Major retailer to close permanently in town centre

A department store will shut its doors for good in Northampton town centre this weekend.

Next will have its final day of trading on Saturday and will be replaced by an as yet unknown retailer.

Mark Mullen, the operations manager for Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID), said the closure was “disappointing”.

A spokesperson for Next confirmed the closure date to the BBC but said there was no further information available.

The store is the latest casualty on Northampton's high street with other big retail giants leaving over the years.

The Marks and Spencer store on Abington Street closed in 2018 as part of a savings plan by the retailer.

BHS closed all its stores in 2016, but part of the unit in Northampton has been used as a fashion and furniture retailer since, while Debenhams shut in 2021.

Mr Mullen said: “While it’s always disappointing to see a major national retailer leave our town centre, this reflects the national picture with Next recently closing 11 stores around the country."

A spokesperson from Evolve Estates, which manages the Grosvenor Centre where the store is situated, said: "Next requested the landlord to accept no rent pay for them to stay.

"A big name will be replacing their unit next year."

A Next spokesperson said: "We can confirm that the Northampton Next store will cease trade on Saturday 10th August.

"We have no further information at this time."

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