Folkestone & Hythe to be hit by Woolworths closures [Updated 22 December: store closure dates announced]

All 807 Woolworths stores will close by 5 January unless a last-minute buyer can be found, the company has confirmed. This will include the Folkestone and Hythe branches of the chain.

The BBC report that talks over the sale of the leaseholds of individual stores are continuing, with Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, the Co-op and discount chain Poundland thought to be interested in picking up some of the retailer's prime sites, but there is no confirmation of whether this will include any of the local stores.

Shepway Councillor Tim Prater commented:

"'End of an era' is often overused, but in the case of the closure of all Woolworths stores in the UK it seems fitting.

"Many people will have long-standing memories of shopping there - I bought my first record in Woolworths myself. However, it does seem that in recent years, much of what has been available in Woolworths has been available elsewhere - it hasn't seemed like a destination store for a long time.

"I hope new retailers will take a good look at the Folkestone and Hythe stores - both have good locations centrally in both towns, and it would be a missed opportunity if they were to remain empty for long."

Update 22 December: Woolworths' administrators have announced that the Woolworths Folkestone store will close on 30 December 2008, and Woolworths Hythe store will close on 5 January 2009.