The Bookseller.com

17th May 2008

The Works closes 85 shops

12.03.08 Graeme Neill

Beleaguered discount chain The Works is making 450 staff redundant and closing 85 stores next week as it attempt to restructure following its administration in January. Administrators Kroll informed staff this morning (12th March) of the closures, which should be completed by 20th March. Peter Saville from Kroll said that the moves were a "necessary step" in selling the business as a going concern."

"In order to complete a sale, we have been undertaking a detailed review of the business as a means of creating a core sustainable business which will be an attractive investment opportunity to potential buyers," he said. "This review has now been completed, and as a result, this has led us to the difficult decision of closing 85 stores."

He added that the chain has received a "significant" level of interest since it plunged into administration and said that he was hopeful of completing a sale of the business in the near future. "We appreciate that this is a difficult time for everyone involved and I would once again like to thank all employees for their continued support during the administration process."

The stores affected are:
Aberdeen (Bon Accord); Aberdeen (Union St); Accrington; Altrincham; Andover; Armitage Garden Centre; Barnsley; Barrow In Furness; Birmingham (Pallasades); Bluewater; Bolton; Bolton (Middlebrook); Bromley; Bury; Camberley; Cambridge (Kings); Camden; Chatham (Dockside); Cheltenham; Cirencester; Coatbridge (EWM); Colchester (Culver); Congleton; Covent Garden; Crawley; Denton; Dumfries; Dundee (City Quay); Dundee (Overgate); Durham; East Kilbride; Edinburgh (St. James); Epsom; Falkirk; Glagsow (Braehead); Glagsow (Byres Road); Glasgow (Sauchiehall); Glasgow (St. Enoch); Gloucester; Grantham; Halifax; Hartlepool; Hatton; Hull(Prospect); Inverness; Kettering (Newlands); Kidderminster; Kirkcaldy; Leith (EWM); Livingston (Almondvale); Macclesfield; Magherafelt; Mancetter; Middlesbrough (Hill Street); Newcastle (Eldon); Northfield; Nottingham (Bridgeford); Nottingham (Broad); Oldham; Oxford (Westgate); Pool (Booksale); Portsmouth (Cascades); Reading (Oracle); Rowsley (Art); Salford Quays 2; Slough; Southampton (Above Bar); Southampton (Marlands); Southport; St. Helens; Stafford; Stockport; Stockton On Tees; Swindon; Tamworth; Tullibardine; Uxbridge; Wakefield (All Saints); Wakefield (Bishopsgate); Watford; Wigan; Wimbledon (Centre); Winsford; Worthing; York (Stonegate).

Retail The Works Graeme Neill

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