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Coronavirus: Poundland set to close 44 high street stores

A woman leaves a branch of Poundland in Altrincham, Britain January 7 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble
A woman leaves a branch of Poundland in Altrincham, Britain January 7 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Poundland has announced that it will temporarily close 44 of its stores from Saturday (9 January), replicating the measures it took during the first lockdown in March last year.

The chain, which is allowed to trade during the current third lockdown as it is an essential retailer, will place outlets across the UK into “hibernation”.

Austin Cooke, Poundland’s retail director, said: "We learned valuable lessons during the lockdown in March about how buying patterns change as people stick to government advice to stay at home.

"Putting a small number of stores into hibernation helps protect them for the long term and focus our attention on the majority of stores that remain open to serve their neighbourhoods.

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"We hope this lockdown is short and we can re-open our hibernating stores as quickly as possible and we remain grateful for the vital support schemes available to us that help protect jobs."

Watch: What is the Job Support Scheme and how has it changed?

READ MORE: UK retail records sixth consecutive month of growth in October

The company said that around 800 stores will remain open but did not confirm when the closed sites will be reopened.

It will place staff members in affected stores on furlough “where appropriate,” protecting those roles for future.

Although Poundland has been allowed to stay open throughout the coronavirus pandemic as it sells food, medicine and other essential goods, it reported an 80% slump in customers visiting some locations at shopping centres and high streets.

The Poundland stores closing down are:

  • Newark, St Marks Place

  • Londonderry Ferryquay Street NI

  • Grantham, Isaac Newton Centre,

  • Kingston upon Thames Eden Walk

  • Mansfield Four Seasons SC

  • Harlow Harvey SC

  • Lowestoft Britten SC

  • Colchester Culver Street

  • Ipswich Sailmakers SC

  • Ayr High Street

  • Norwich Castle Mall

  • Workington Campbell-Savours Way

  • Newmarket, The Guineas SC

  • Carlisle Scotch Street

  • Luton 31 The Mall SC

  • Dumfries, Loreburne SC

  • Belfast Castlecourt SC NI

  • Glasgow Union Street

  • Newry Buttercrane SC NI

  • Falkirk Howgate SC

  • Enniskillen Erneside SC NI

  • Edinburgh Princes Street

  • Newry Quays SC NI

  • Perth St Johns SC

  • Inverness High Street

  • Cardiff 121 Queens Street

  • Kirkcaldy Mercat SC

  • Bridgwater Angel Place SC

  • Cramlington Manor Walks SC

  • Burnley 82 Charter Walk SC

  • Middlesbrough Captain Cook Square SC

  • Preston Fishergate Centre

  • Durham Riverwalk SC

  • Rochdale Exchange SC

  • Beverley Flemingate SC

  • Chester Frodsham Street

  • Farnham The Borough

  • Bootle Strand SC

  • Fareham Market Quay

  • Solihull High Street

  • Fareham Whiteley SC

  • Newcastle under Lyme Castle Walk

  • Crewe Market St

  • Merry Hill SC

Watch: How does England feel about a third lockdown?