Homebase 'on brink of administration' with 130 UK shops at risk of closure
by Catherine Addison-Swan, Chiara Fiorillo · ChronicleLiveHomebase is reportedly set to enter administration, with 130 shops across the country potentially set to close their doors for good.
The DIY and garden giant is said to be making preparations to call in administrators for its UK operation, in the latest household name at risk of disappearing from the high street. It has not been confirmed which stores are at risk of closure, but Homebase has branches across the North East, including in Gateshead's Team Valley, Hexham, Blyth, Alnwick, Berwick and Bishop Auckland.
The Range, the privately owned general merchandise retailer, is closing in on a deal to snap up a large chunk of Homebase which will save close to 1,500 jobs. However, doubts remain about at least 1,700 more jobs .
The news is the latest in a long line of several popular retail chains that have collapsed into administration in recent years, with Wilko having shut all of its stores in 2023 after failing to find a buyer for the businesses. More recently, The Body Shop closed 82 of its shops after going into administration in February, but was saved from complete collapse in September after being bought by a consortium led by tycoon Mike Jatania.
In 2018, Homebase underwent a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) and closed over 100 stores, leading to the loss of 1,500 jobs. The retailer lost more than £40million in 2022, according to accounts filed at Companies House, although last year's performance is believed to have been significantly better.
In August this year, Homebase managing director Damian McGloughlin wrote to suppliers saying it was trading "behind where we planned to be" and would begin an "active sale process" to seek new investment. According to The Times, Homebase has held discussions with a number of parties in addition to The Range, including B&M European Value Retail and Kingfisher, but a deal is yet to be reached.
Full list of Homebase stores at risk of closure
Drogheda
Dublin
Dublin
Letterkenny
Navan
Portlaoise
Sligo
Waterford
Abingdon
Alnwick
Altrincham
Ashbourne
Barnstaple
Basildon
Basingstoke
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Bicester
Biggleswade
Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham
Bishop Auckland
Bishop’s Stortford
Blandford Forum
Blyth
Bodmin
Bracknell
Bradford
Bristol
Broadstairs
Bury Saint Edmunds
Cannock
Chatham
Cheltenham
Chester
Chichester
Christchurch
Clitheroe
Colchester
Coventry
Daventry
Derby
Derby
East Dereham
Eastbourne
Epsom
Farnham
Felixstowe
Folkestone
Frome
Gateshead
Gloucester
Godalming
Harlow
Harrogate
Herne Bay
Hexham
High Wycombe
Honiton
Horsham
Hove
Hull
Huntingdon
Leamington Spa
Ledbury
Leeds
Leicester
Leighton Buzzard
Lewes
London
London
London
London
Luton
Maidenhead
Maidstone
Market Harborough
Middlesex
Milton Keynes
Morecambe
Newcastle Under Lyme
Newmarket
Newton Abbot
Norwich
Norwich
Nottingham
Oldbury
Orpington
Oxford
Poole
Rayleigh
Reigate
Romford
Ruislip
Saffron Walden
Selby
Sevenoaks
Sheffield
Sheffield
Sittingbourne
Sleaford
St. Albans
Staines
Stamford
Stockport
Stroud
Sudbury, Suffolk
Telford
Tiverton
Truro
Tunbridge Wells
Waltham Cross
Winchester
Wirral
Woking
Wolverhampton
Worcester
Antrim
Bangor
Belfast
Belfast
Cookstown
Craigavon
Dumfries
Dunfermline
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Glenrothes
Hamilton
Oban
Wales
Bridgend
Haverfordwest
Join our WhatsApp communities
ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities.
We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we'll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all!
To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.
Join the ChronicleLive Breaking News and Top Stories community
Join our Court & Crime community
Join the Things to do in Newcastle and the North East community
Join our Northumberland community
Join our County Durham community
Join our Great North Run community