Dobbies, the largest garden centre chain in the UK and a company that’s been around for over 150 years, has announced it is closing more than a dozen sites across the country. The brand intends to shutter ‘unprofitable stores’ as part of a restructuring plan.
Known as much for its selection of outside furniture and seasonal decorations as it is for its plants and gardening tools, a Dobbies is handy to have nearby. Dobbies wants to shut 11 ‘mainline’ garden centres and six ‘Little Dobbies’.
The closures are subject to the restricting plan being approved – it still needs to be agreed by landlords and ratified by a court. Here’s everything you need to know about which Dobbies garden centres could close.
RECOMMENDED:
💄 All the Boots stores closing before the end of 2024 in the UK – and in London.
🎥 All the Cineworld cinemas closing in the UK.
Which Dobbies are closing down and when?
Here are all the Dobbies outposts that are set to close.
- Altrincham
- Antrim
- Cheltenham (Little Dobbies)
- Chiswick (Little Dobbies)
- Clifton (Little Dobbies)
- Gloucester
- Gosforth
- Harlestone Heath
- Huntingdon
- Inverness
- King’s Lynn
- Pennine
- Reading
- Richmond (Little Dobbies)
- Stockbridge (Little Dobbies)
- Stratford-upon-Avon
- Westbourne Grove (Little Dobbies)
These Dobbies don’t yet have confirmed closing dates – though the brand says it intends to shut them by the end of the year.
How many jobs could be lost?
The closures are set to impact 465 Dobbies employees, out of a total of 3,600.
Who has taken over Dobbies Garden Centre?
No one has taken over Dobbies Garden Centre – well, not recently, anyway. The chain was acquired by investor Ares Management in in February 2023.
The restructuring plan has been put together by Ares Management, Dobbies and FTI Consulting.
Why is the garden centre chain closing down?
Dobbies says that the 17 stores slated for closure are ‘unprofitable’. It says that the restructuring plan intends to ‘address historically uneconomical rent costs and ensure a return to sustainable profitability’.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.