Major budget high street store to close huge store this week | UK | News
In a major blow to the high street, with just days to go in 2026, a major retailer will close the doors of one of its stores for good. Primark has announced that it will close its Dartford branch on Saturday, January 3; This is believed to be the retailer’s first closure in a decade. While the staff of the store located in The Orchards Shopping Center were laid off, customers were directed to stores in Bexleyheath and Bluewater.
The Irish multinational fashion retailer has more than 190 stores across the country, offering baby, children’s, women’s and men’s clothing, as well as accessories and products including footwear, beauty products and homeware. But that number is expected to fall this week after one of its staff shared the disappointing news on the Dartford Community Facebook group. “Next week will be a very sad time for all staff, many of us are being made redundant so please be careful. [you’re] He was complaining that there was nothing left in the store. THANK YOU.”
Customers were left devastated by the closure, and many people used the comments of the Facebook post to share their disappointment.
One wrote: “Sadly Dartford has been heading towards a ghost town for a few years now.”
Another added: “This is going, Wilko is gone, Easy Coffee is gone, unless something drastic happens to strengthen it it will soon be goodbye to Dartford town centre.”
“What? Even Primark is leaving Dartford. The town is done,” wrote a third.
The decision was made to close the building because it urgently needed repairs.
Philippa Nibbs, Primark’s sales manager for the UK South and South East, said: “This difficult decision was taken due to the extensive repairs required to the building, given its proximity to two other Primark stores, and it is not possible to implement this decision.
“We are pleased that more than half of our colleagues will be taking up roles in nearby stores and we are focused on supporting colleagues who are leaving.
“We realize this news will be disappointing for our local customers and we are grateful to our customers and the Dartford community for their support over the years.”
