Businesses that have closed in 2022 in BCP and Dorset

Despite Covid restrictions being lifted for more than a year, businesses face new struggles amid rising energy costs, rent rises, the cost-of-living crisis and changing habits in our town centres. 

A number of premises have closed their doors for various reasons so far this year.

Here’s a round-up of the businesses large and small that have shut up shop.

Prezzo in Christchurch

Restaurant chain Prezzo closed its popular restaurant in Christchurch in January.

Italian eaterie Prezzo had been in place in Christchurch for nearly 20 years.

A spokesperson for Cain International said at the time: “Prezzo will miss the Christchurch community and we hope that the customers who have dined with us over the last 19 years will visit us in our Bournemouth and Lymington restaurants.

“To close restaurants is always a difficult decision but we are talking to all our team members and we hope that many of them will continue to develop their careers at our restaurants nearby.”

Argos at Ringwood Road Retail Park

The standalone Argos branch in Ringwood Road Retail Park closed on Thursday, February 10, as part of a nationwide process.

In late 2020, it was announced that the 420 standalone UK Argos stores would close by March 2024, although owner Sainsbury's said it would open 150 Argos outlets within its supermarkets.

An Argos spokesperson said: “Our Ringwood Argos store is closing soon and colleagues were offered opportunities to redeploy to alternative roles within Sainsbury’s. Customers can continue to shop with us at our nearby stores, including our Talbot Heath Argos within Sainsbury’s.”

Waterstones in Poole 

Waterstones “regrettably” closed its Falkland Square store after reaching the end of its lease and ceased trading on Sunday, February 27.

The retailer has said it is actively looking for a new store location in Poole town centre.

Luke Taylor, Waterstones Retail Director: “It is with much regret that we close the doors to our popular bookshop in Poole and we would like to thank all our customers for their continued support.

“Poole is a place where we’d like to remain and, although we have yet to identify a suitable new location, we are confident that we will find a new home in the town."

New Look in Bournemouth 

Fashion chain New Look shut its Bournemouth town centre store in February after 21 years.

The retailer said the closure of its branch in the Square was not its own decision but that it was being ousted by the landlord.

A New Look spokesperson said: “Regrettably the New Look store in Bournemouth will be closing in February after the landlord decided to exit the lease early.

“Whilst it was therefore not our decision to close the store, we are focusing on supporting our store colleagues and where possible finding alternative roles for them within the business.”

House of Fraser in Bournemouth

Bournemouth lost its final big department store when House of Fraser closed in March. 

The store, which first opened its doors in 1873, was the last remaining department store left in the town after Beales closed in 2020 followed by Debenhams last year.

A spokeswoman for Frasers Group said: “It is with regret that we announce the closure of House of Fraser, Bournemouth.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff for their hard work and dedication. Where possible, we are committed to finding new roles within the group for all staff.”

Aga in Ringwood 

The Aga Rangemaster at the Furlong Shopping Centre, Ringwood, closed in February after its lease came to an end.

A sign on the door said: “We regret to announce that the AGA shop Ringwood is now permanently closed.

“Your nearest Aga stores can be found in Bath … and Haslemere.”

Aga told the Daily Echo in a statement: “The Aga store in Ringwood has now closed and customers with outstanding orders have been contacted by other Aga retail stores who will now be their point of contact for all enquiries and queries."

Smiggle in Bournemouth

Stationery and office supply store Smiggle in Bournemouth town centre quietly closed in March after almost six years of trading.

It opened its Bournemouth store in 2016.

Holland & Barrett in Bournemouth

The health food chain closed one of its two branches in Bournemouth town centre back in May.

A Holland & Barrett spokesperson said: "We can confirm that we’re closing one of our stores in Bournemouth, which is in very close proximity to our other store on Old Christchurch Road and is only a few minutes walk away. 

"We’re actively looking for another site to move to so we can invest in a bigger, better store for our customers.”

Wilko in Bournemouth

Bournemouth town centre’s Wilko store shut in February.

The chain said it had struggled to come to ‘more agreeable’ lease terms with the landlord of the Richmond Gardens Shopping Centre.

A spokesperson for Wilko at the time said: “We’re bidding a fond farewell to our Dalkeith Arcade store.

“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our team members past and present and to reassure customers that we’ll continue to offer everything they need from nearby stores in Winton and Boscombe or via wilko.com.”

Customers expressed their disappointment at the closing of the store which some said was “the only reason” they visited the part of the town.

Lidl in Bournemouth

The Lidl store next to Wilko closed up on Friday, October 7. 

A Lidl spokesperson said the store would be closing “at the end of our lease this year” but that Bournemouth town centre remained on its desired site requirements list.

Staff were notified in August during a meeting about the shop’s closure. There have been no redundancies as all staff were being transferred to another Lidl store. 

Nearby Lidl stores remain open at Poole Road in Branksome, Christchurch Road in Boscombe, Holdenhurst Road, and Wimborne Road in Winton.

White Stuff in Bournemouth

The fashion chain closed its Bournemouth branch in September.

A sign on the door simply said: "We'll miss you Bournemouth. The store is closing on September 10.

"Thanks for letting us be part of your community."

It is unknown why the store closed but the Daily Echo approached White Stuff for a comment at the time. 

Bransgore Country Market 

Bransgore's only butcher was due to close yesterday after 12 years due to the economic crisis.

Bransgore Country Market is closing due to increasing energy costs as well as the rising cost of meat, they say it would no longer be "viable" to remain in business. 

The family-run business announced the closure with "great sadness."