Popular high street retailer with 300 branches to shut store in 24 hours

It’s the latest blow to the high street and customers have expressed their disappointment at the news as the clothing and shoe shop will close a store forever

A beloved retailer with 300 stores nationwide will close a high street store forever. And it will be gone for good within the next 24 hours.

Outdoor clothing and shoe shop Trespass will cease operations at its Aylesbury Friars Square Shopping Centre branch in Buckinghamshire on Sunday, May 18. It is a decision that has been met with disappointment from customers, who have taken to social media to express their sadness after the company launched a closing-down sale to clear stock.

This move typically signals the imminent closure of the store and is part of a broader strategy by the retail giant to cut costs due to dwindling customer numbers. Last year, Trespass closed at least 12 shops, including those in Coventry, Norwich, and Middlesbrough, despite some of them having only been open for a few years – with the retailer confirming six more closures in 2023.

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One upset customer said online: “It’s a shame – we’ve bought hiking gear and waterproofs here for years. Not sure where we’ll go now.”

While the store was still open, customers had nothing but praise: “Great service from the team in Aylesbury! Great products and quality. From shirts and boots to all weather gear. Wouldn’t go anywhere else.”

Aylesbury has borne the brunt of other closures this year, including Dobbies garden centre, which shut a few months ago, and Marshall Motor Group in March. These closures are part of a wider trend across the high street, with many big names, including retailers, banks, and supermarkets, announcing their departure.

WHSmith has dramatically downsized and declared its intention to concentrate on the travel sector, specifically in airports and train stations. Santander, a Spanish bank, has either shut numerous branches or cut their operating hours due to customers increasingly opting for online banking, a move mirrored by other banks such as Lloyds and Natwest.

Then there’s Morrisons which has also revealed a significant shift, deciding to close 17 Morrisons Daily convenience stores, over 50 Morrisons Cafés, as well as Market Kitchens, florists, meat counters, fish counters and pharmacies.

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