High street ‘decimated’ as British handbag chain shuts down FOUR stores for good after decades of trading

A MUCH-LOVED retailer has been forced to close a string of its high street branches “with a heavy heart”.

A clothing and handbag chain has shut four shops in the north west of England and Scotland after decades of success in the region.

Lakeland Leather opened in Cumbria in 1955. The business expanded nationwide throughout the decades to become a household name.

Earlier this year, the leather retailer shut down stores in Carlisle and Gretna. 

Its Southport store also ceased trading on May 7.

Now a branch in Kendal, south Cumbria, stands empty after the chain chose not to renew the lease.

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The York store in Stonegate will also cease trading this month after 41 years. Closing sales have been ongoing since late April.

The retailer previously said: “With a heavy heart, we are closing our Kendal store due to the ongoing economic challenges faced by small specialist retail groups such as ours.”

It added: “We want to thank you, our wonderful customers, for your loyalty, friendship and support over the past 43 years – Kendal has truly meant the world to us.”

A local told the Cumberland News & Star: “So sad. Their leather goods are outstanding, the high street is being decimated.”

Another dubbed it a “blow” to the town centre.

Lakeland Leather says it is “a sensitive time” for staff, adding it is “committed to supporting them through this process”.

The company confirmed it remains in profit. A source at Felldale Retail, which operates stores for Lakeland Leather, said: “Lakeland Leather remains profitable and grew sales by over 7 per cent last year. 

“Digital sales are now the larger part of the group with a third successive year of sales growth over 20 per cent.”