Shoppers have expressed fears that their town will be "dead" when one of Nottingham's biggest companies closes a store. Health and beauty giant Boots recently announced its store in Commercial Road, Bulwell, would close in August 2022.
The business stated the closure was decided after a review of customer demand and store locations but labelled the step "unfortunate". It joins a list of brands that have left the town, such as the recent closure of NatWest on nearby Main Street.
Locals thought the exit of Nottingham-based Boots from the town would add to the growing feeling of its high street 'dying'. Kevin Pritchard, 67, and Elizabethann Pritchard, 64, from Bulwell, thought Boots leaving would continue what they saw as a decline of the town's high street.
Read more: Royal Bank of Scotland bank in Nottingham city centre officially closes
"We have already had a lot of shops leave. It's going to end up being a dead town," Mr Pritchard said. "We have got next to nothing anymore. It is going to make life harder for the people who can't get around as well, and it's a big brand - the fact it's Boots who are Nottingham based makes it even worse."
Mrs Pritchard, added: "It's just bookies and barbers, a lot of the high street will be empty soon. You used to be able to buy anything you wanted in town. Nobody listens to what we want around here, if you had a meeting on how to save the town you'd have a lot of people turn up. It's all starting to look sad.
"Places are either left empty or they become something we already have a lot of. We just want something a bit different to open up here."
Another large national brand, Argos, closed its store off Holborn Place, Bulwell, in 2020. A number of independent businesses, like Budget Wise in Commercial Road which shut earlier this year, have now also left behind shuttered shops.
Retiree Bob Mitchell, 71, said the loss of a 'huge' Nottingham brand like Boots would hurt the town. "You would think a huge Nottingham company like Boots would want to keep it open. I cannot understand why a business that big would have to close the shop.
"It's a big change because it makes the nearest pharmacy at the doctors down the road. There are shops shutting down all over the place in Bulwell. There is nothing here anymore, apart from barbers and charity shops. The town centre shops, and the market, have gone downhill."
Angela Morton, 59, who lives in Aspley but visits Bulwell often, said: "I shop here, so it will be a big loss for me personally. It's a bit of a shock really, when it leaves that will be awful for the town. There's nothing new coming to Bulwell to replace what is leaving, there will be nothing left at all."
There had been rumours in February that the shop was going to close. However, at the time, Nottinghamshire Live was told there would only be a slight reduction of hours at the branch.
Nottingham-based Boots said they had not taken the more recent decision lightly. A Boots UK spokesperson said: "At Boots UK, we continually review our store locations to make sure they are where our customers need us most. It is never a decision we take lightly when looking to close a store.
"Unfortunately we have taken the decision to close the store on Commercial Road in Bulwell and can confirm the store will be closing in August 2022. Our stores at Bestwood Park and Aspley Lane will remain open and will continue to offer pharmacy services to our customers."
