'Only a matter of time' shoppers complain as bargain supermarket giant has to close its branch

SHOPPERS are devastated after a major discounter announced it will close one of its stores within weeks.

It comes as the supermarket chain prepares to close four more branches this month, but also amid major expansion plans.

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Lidl will welcome customers to its branch in High Street, Hanham, Bristol, for the final time on March 1, after opening 26 years ago.

The next nearest customer branches are in Lawrence Hill, Longwell Green and Kingswood.

A spokesperson for the retailer said it was closing the Hanham branch because the location was too small for a store expansion.

They added: “Although it has been proposed that our Hanham store, which is 26 years old, will close from Friday 1 March, we hope to continue to welcome customers to one of our other nearby stores.”

News of the Hanham branch's closure has been devastated by locals, with one calling it their 'go-to' store.

Another said: “It's so sad for those who walk there without a car or are elderly.

“I was concerned that given the opening of the Longwell Green store, it would only be a matter of time before the Hanham store closed.”

Meanwhile, a third added: “I'm really going to miss it now that I can't drive anymore.

“It's okay to walk to the next Lidl, but walking back with the goods is frustrating!!!”

Lidl will also close four more branches in the United Kingdom this month.

The retailer will close its store in Paignton, Devon, on February 4, followed by its branch in Kentish Town, London, on February 11.

Two branches in Bradford and Layland, Lancashire, will close their shutters for good on February 29.

But it's not all bad news for the supermarket chain, as major expansion plans are also in the pipeline.

In April last year the retailer, which at the time had 950 branches in the UK, said it wanted to open hundreds of new locations in the UK.

It also set a new retail target of 1,100 stores by the end of 2025, creating 4,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, Lidl workers will be the highest paid supermarket staff when a pay rise starts in March.

Shop and warehouse workers in London earn up to £13.85 per hour, and those in the rest of the country £13 per hour.

New workers get £13.55 an hour in London, up from £12.85, and £12 outside the capital, up from £11.40.

Why are retailers closing their stores?

The reason why stores are closing is not the same for every retailer, as each retailer faces its own unique challenges.

But there are some central issues that have increased pressure on businesses in recent years, namely high energy costs.

High inflation has also shrunk shoppers' wallets, leaving them with less expandable money to spend.

Meanwhile, the shift to online shopping has increased pressure on high streets and retail parks.

Recent figures from the Center for Retail Research show that more than 10,000 stores will close for the last time in 2023 and that almost 120,000 jobs will be lost across the sector.

A number of notable retailers have closed their stores, including Boots, which is massively consolidating its branch portfolio from 2,200 to 1,900.

Iconic names Wilko and Paperchase also fell into administration last year, with thousands of staff laid off.

Other retailers have closed stores among themselves, including Iceland, New Look and the Original Factory Shop.

It's not all bad news for the high street, however, with a number of retailers opening stores in the UK.

B&M, which currently operates more than 650 UK stores, recently announced plans to open a further 17 stores in January and February.

Asda also plans to open 21 new locations before the end of the month.

The retailer said it aims to have 1,000 stores in Britain and Northern Ireland by March this year.

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