Two big name retailers set to close in Weymouth town centre

Jewellers H Samuel and Mothercare, both on St Mary Street, will be shutting their doors in the coming weeks.

The closures have rocked the town centre with 20 premises now standing empty in the main streets.

H Samuel has occupied the key site in the heart of the town centre for 20 years - and the site lies opposite the recently vacated Next store.

Mark Blunden, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, said he hopes the prime sites will be filled again soon.

He said: “H Samuel has been there for a number of years and it's in a prime site.

“This is so much about High Streets changing because of the effect of internet shopping.

“Rates and rent are also having an effect on businesses and a lot of tenants have been subject to this in an increasingly difficult economy.”

There were16 empty shops in the centre of Weymouth, according to a survey by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council in December.

When the Echo went into town recently the number had risen to 20.

H Samuel announced it will be closing on May 3 and Mothercare on April 10.

A spokesman for H Samuel said: “We continually reassess our portfolio of stores on a store-by-store basis, particularly when individual store leases come up for renewal. “This particular closure bears no reflection upon the future plans of the Signet business estate overall within the UK. “We are sorry to be leaving Weymouth on May 3 however we do have an alternative H Samuel store nearby in Dorchester.”

A Mothercare spokesman confirmed the shop will be shutting on April 10.

He said: “The closure of this store is in line with our current portfolio plan. “We hope this has not upset any customers and that they will continue to shop at our store in Yeovil and via our website.

“We have no information on staff redundancies at this time. “All staff will go through a consultation process where redeployment in a nearby store will be the first option explored.”

Coun Ian Munro-Price, spokesman for economic development, said: “It's always regrettable when a High Street store closes and my thoughts go to the staff.

“Hopefully they won't find it too difficult a process.

“There are hundreds of jobs in the area with Sainsbury's and Beefeater so there are lots of good stories about jobs in Weymouth as well.

“Unfortunately a lot of businesses are still struggling, especially in the High Street and we shouldn't forget that.

“It's a real shame to lose H Samuel, which is such a long-standing business in the town.”

Co-ordinator of the Weymouth Business Improvement District (BID) Nigel Reed has said they are working to improve Weymouth town centre.

He said: “This is a challenge which we want to address with the BID.

“We want to promote footfall and increase spending in the borough.

“If we are successful with starting this initiative we want to make Weymouth an attractive place for people to do business and reduce the number of empty shops.

“It's about making an attractive trading environment with more people coming in.

“Our aim is to make Weymouth a place where people want to do business.”

Residents were concerned about the new closures and the state of the town centre.

Weymouth resident Alan Wilson said: “I am shocked and saddened about the number of shops and businesses that have closed and are about to close.

“I have grown up with most of these and over the years they have all gone or about to go.

“H Samuels will leave another gap to our town centre.”

Resident Hannah Greenslade-Pile said the latest closures will be a 'massive inconvenience'.

She said: “It is so frustrating because Mothercare is one of the only baby shops in Weymouth and we now have to travel 20 odd miles to the nearest store.

“It's a real shame.”

Business owners said it was sad to see H Samuel and Mothercare announce the closures.

Paul Arnold, owner of Weymouth Goldsmiths, St Mary Street, said: “I hate to see anyone go out of business.

“It's a big shame because H Samuel have been there a long time.

“It's sad to see them go.

“The rent in town is very high and it must be causing problems for businesses.”

Alan Freemantle, owner of Gifts and Goodies, St Alban Street, added: “I can't believe H Samuel is closing, they've been there years and years.

“I've bought my wife jewellery from there quite a bit over the years, the staff are really nice.“It's upsetting that another big business is leaving Weymouth, we have got to get some big companies in.”

Kim Ellis, of Julia's House charity shop, St Mary Street, said: “It's a real shame.

“H Samuel has been there for about 20 years I think.

“There are more and more empty shops now.

“The town seems to be in a bit of a downward spiral.”