Huge blow as drivers’ go-to store with over 750 branches to abruptly shut ‘brilliant’ branch leaving shoppers gutted

A MAJOR retailer with over 750 branches is set to abruptly close another store in just weeks.

The much-loved shop's closure will come as a huge blow to drivers who rely on the branch for motoring goods.

Halfords, which specialises in car and cycling products and services, is pulling down the shutters on its branch on Hambledon Road in Hampshire.

A spokesperson for the firm confirmed that Waterlooville Halfords will be closing its doors for the final time in coming weeks.

The exact date of the closure has been set for August 9.

They said: "We can confirm our Halfords Waterlooville store will be permanently closing on August 9.

"We are working hard to support all of those affected and are hopeful of being able to offer those colleagues roles at alternative locations.

"We'd like to thank all our customers for their support of the Halfords Waterlooville store and look forward to welcoming them at our Halfrods Havant and Portsmouth stores located within a 15-minute drive."

It is unclear why this specific store is closing.

The go-to store for drivers recently shut down its branch in  Winchester, Hampshire, 

Halfords closed its outlet in the Moorside Road Retail Park in Winnall on July 5 after more than two decades of trading.

And in January, Halfords pulled the shutters down on its branch in The Merry Hill Centre, in Brierley Hill, Dudley.

Halfords also closed a string of branches last year, including sites in Cambridge, Lincoln and Gloucestershire.

In July 2020, Halford earmarked 60 stores and garages for closure following a hit in its sales due to coronavirus.

At the time, it operated over 445 stores as well as more than 370 garages in the UK.

The retailer currently runs over 400 shops and around 300 garages.

Why are retailers closing branches?

The cost of living crisis, stubbornly high inflation and energy costs are taking their toll on retailers.

Shoppers have been cutting back spending, while the cost of actually running a store has also increased, meaning some outlets have struggled to keep going.

Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) this summer found the UK had lost 6,000 stores over a five-year period.

Several major brands have also collapsed and closed stores for good.

Wilko's fall in August 2023 marked the biggest British retail collapse since McColl's plunged into administration in May last year.

Scottish clothing brand M&Co and wellies retailer Joules were among a host of other familiar brands that went bust in 2022.

The Body Shop also fell into administration and it has seen dozens of branches close.

Administrators for Ted Baker have confirmed 15 sites across England will close permanently in a blow to the high street.

Boots announced it would be closing 300 stores last year as part of plans to evolve its brand.

But shoppers still have reason to be cheerful as other retailers are actually expanding this year.

This week saw the return of the beloved record chain Our Price.

The record store was once a staple of the UK high street from the early 1970s until 2004.

Toys R Us is also among those which has managed to make a comeback.

The popular toy brand opened up nine new shops in 2023 after vanishing from the high street in 2018.

However, the new stores are slightly different as they are "shop-in-shops" and are located inside WHSmith stores.

Toys R Us will be opening 30 new shops across the UK this summer following the successful opening of almost a dozen stores last year.

The Sun revealed discount retailer Costco is expanding in the UK as well and is planning to open 14 more warehouses over the next two years.

Once-huge bakery chain Patisserie Valerie, which also collapsed into administration and closed most of its stores, has started reopening branches, as revealed by the Sun.

Wilko shops are also set to return to the UK high street after the chain collapsed earlier this year.