Wilko: Administrators reveal fate of Bolton branch

This comes after administrators unveiled a list of 52 branches of the troubled retailer all around the country that will be closed.

But neither of Bolton’s branches on Deansgate or at Middlebrook Retail Park are amongst those on the list.

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Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi said: “It is tentatively good news to hear that the Bolton Wilko store is staying open for now.

“Hopefully a full resolution can be found and the site and jobs are saved.

“I will continue to liaise with those involved in the process to ensure staff are properly protected throughout.”

Wilko announced it was going into administration earlier in August (Image: Newsquest)

Bolton’s two branches are amongst 51 around the country, saved for the time being at least after rival retailer B&M bought up to 51 other Wilko stores in a deal worth up to £13 million.

The last minute announcement that the stores will be staying open will come as a relief to a high street that has already lost its branch of Marks and Spencer, while the town centre’s Market Place shopping centre lost its Debenhams not long before.

The 52 other stores will be closed in two phases, with the first tranche to be closed on Thursday September 12 and the rest two days later on Saturday September 14.

Though Bolton’s branches will remain open for now at least, other stores in the North West set to be shut include those in Harpurhey, Manchester and in Stockport, Nelson and Burnley. 

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Nationwide this will lead to a total of 1,016 redundancies.

HMV owner Doug Putman is believed to still be in discussions with administrators PwC over a possible deal to save a significant number of stores.

Joint administrator Edward Williams said: “In the absence of viable offers for the whole business, very sadly store closures and redundancies of team members from those stores are now necessary.

“The loss of these stores will be felt not only by the team members who served them with such dedication, including through the uncertainty of recent weeks, but also the communities which they have been a part of.”