1 week Ago By Adele Cooke
SIX Homebase stores will reopen as branches of The Range in days as part of a rescue deal. The DIY and homeware chain entered into administration in November but was partially rescued by billionaire Chris Dwason, owner of CDS Superstores, the parent company of The Range and Wilko. Advertisement 1 Six former Homebase branches are set to reopen as The Range in May Credit: Alamy The intervention aimed to preserve up to 70 stores, safeguard 1,600 jobs and retain the Homebase brand.
So far 43 new format superstores have opened across the UK and Republic of Ireland since the beginning of the year. These are The Range stores with Homebase departments, including Garden Centres by Homebase or Kitchens by Homebase. The Range’s owner has now announced that six sites will open in May.
Advertisement Read more on Homebase RESCUE DEAL Huge update on Homebase closures as dates for 12 locations re-opening confirmed OPEN UP Iconic homeware store set to open three new superstores in ex-Homebase sites Homebase stores in Stamford, Market Harborough, Cookstown, Tiverton, Santry, Dublin, and Clitheroe will all reopen under The Range banner next month. The full list of locations and the dates they will reopen are: Stamford - May 2 Market Harborough - May 2 Cookstown- May 9 Tiverton - May 9 Santry, Dublin - May 9 Clitheroe - May 16 Once these additional stores reopen, the total number of former Homebase locations confirmed to have been acquired by The Range will rise to 49. Most read in Money SHAKE UP Sainsbury's to make major change in all Scottish stores SELL OUT Ebay makes ANOTHER change to postage policy following seller backlash CASH IN The exact detail to spot on a rare coin that could be worth a million HOUSING HORROR We only have £250 a month left after bills due to a shared-ownership hell Garden Centre by Homebase departments will be available in the following stores: Cookstown, Tiverton, Santry and Clitheroe.
Advertisement The Range has opened dozens of new format superstores since January. Homebase the big sale and its legacy The full list of locations and their reopening dates are: Pollokshaws, Glasgow - opened January 17 Christchurch, Bournemouth - opened January 17 Kings Heath, Birmingham - opened January 17 Newton Abbot - opened January 24 Felixstowe - opened January 24 Blyth - opened January 24 Stroud - opened January 31 Putney Road, Leicester - opened January 31 Blandford Forum - opened January 31 Penge - opened February 7 Woking - opened February 7 Leighton Buzzard - opened February 7 Staines - opened February 14 Ashbourne - opened February 14 East Dereham - opened February 14 Huntingdon - opened February 21 Reigate - opened February 21 Bicester - opened February 21 Admiral Park, Eastbourne - opened February 28 Morecambe - opened February 28 Oxford - opened February 28 Bodmin - opened March 7 Loudwater - opened March 7 Selby - opened March 7 Craigleith Park, Edinburgh - opened March 21 Horsham - opened March 21 Ruislip - opened March 21 Maidenhead - opened March 28 Harrogate - opened March 28 Sligo, ROI - opened April 4 Drogheda, ROI - opened April 4 Winchester - opened April 4 Balloo Park, Bangor, NI - opened April 4 Sittingbourne - opened April 11 Frome - opened April 11 Newmarket - opened April 11 Portlaoise - opened April 18 Bishop’s Stortford - opened April 18 Sevenoaks - opened April 18 Haverfordwest - opened April 25 Drakehouse Park, Sheffield - opened April 25 Rayleigh Weir - opened April 25 Dublin Nutgrove - opened April 25 Several of the new stores also include Garden Centres by Homebase, which sell a range of house and garden plants. They are available in the Bangor, Sligo and Drogheda stores.
Advertisement HISTORY OF HOMEBASE 1979: Homebase was founded by the supermarket chain Sainsbury's and Belgian retailer GB-Inno-BM April 1981: The first store opened in Croydon October 1981: The second store opened in Leeds 1989: Homebase opened its 50th store in Norwich 1995: The chain boasted 82 stores and Sainsbury's acquired all 241 Texas Homecare stores 1996-1999: All Texas Homecare stores were converted into the Homebase format 2001: Sainsbury's sells Homebase but retains a 17.3% minority stake until 2002 2006: Homebase operated as a subsidiary under the Home Retail Group from October 2006 until 2016 February 2016: Australian retailer Wesfarmers owner of the Bunnings brand, purchased Homebase for £340million February 2018: Wesfarmers reported losses relating to the takeover of £57million in the year to June 2017, and soon decided to implement a review of the business May 2018: Hilco bought the hardware store chain for just £1 2018-2024: Homebase has closed 106 stores since it was taken over by Hilco Capital Selected stores also have Kitchens by Homebase departments, where customers can shop a range of kitchen designs and accessories. Which other retailers have purchased Homebase stores? A handful of other retailers have stepped in to buy some of the Homebase stores that were not included in the chain’s rescue deal.
Among them is B&Q, which agreed to buy eight of the chain’s stores after they were put up for sale. Wickes also bought five stores, including a former Homebase that closed before the chain entered administration. Advertisement Meanwhile, B&M has confirmed it has acquired the lease for Homebase’s former site at Tweedmouth Retail Park in Berwick.
What will happen to the stores bought by CDS? CDS superstores said it would buy up to 70 Homebase shops. It has also taken over the Homebase brand and has relaunched its website, with thousands of products up for sale. It is in the process of rebranding and opening some of the former Homebase shops under The Range brand.
Advertisement CDS Superstores has said it plans to open three new stores a week for the next few months. It has previously said the move to take on up to 70 Homebase sites would see 1,600 staff retain their jobs. Read more on the Scottish Sun TRAGIC LOSS Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre dies by suicide after troubling posts SHOTS FIRED Snooker star hits back at Stephen Hendry's legacy claims ahead of world champs Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.
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