One More Guildford High Street Chain Store Closing Down

Published on: 30 Mar, 2019
Updated on: 1 Apr, 2019

by Hugh Coakley

One more High Street chain store in Guildford has announced it is to close.

The Steamer Trading Cookshop, saved from administration earlier this year, is now set to close its Guildford branch on Sunday, April 7.

This follows a stream of announcements of high street insolvencies and shops closing in Guildford in the first quarter of the year and observers have questioned who will be next.

Steamer Trading Cookshop, in a prime location at the top of Guildford High Street, is to close down.

In a surprise move, signs appeared in the window of the Guildford branch yesterday (March 29) stating: “Closing Down Sale – All Stock Must Go”.

Staff in the Guildford branch said that they had heard nothing prior to the signs going up.

The store manager said that she was not able to comment but that redundancies were possible although nothing had been finalised.

Closing Down Sale sign appeared in the Steamer Trading Cookshop window in Guildford on Friday.

The Guildford Dragon NEWS understand that the decision has been made to close up to ten stores including the Dorking branch which has already shut its doors to business.

The Dragon asked for a statement from the company including whether other branches are affected. No response had been received at the time of publication.

The Steamer Trading Cookshop was bought by ProCook the cookware and kitchenware shop, in January 2019. Ten of its 37 shops were closed down at the time but the future of the remaining shops, including the Guildford branch, were thought to be secure. Only two months later, this has changed.

As a sign of the difficulties facing our local shops, March 2019 alone saw several high street insolvencies and shops closing in Guildford.

Steamer Trading Cookshop was busy today as people came to take advantage of the 20% off closing down sale.

Earlier in the month, LK Bennett, the high-end fashion store and Giraffe, the restaurant chain both announced that they were in the process of administration. Staff in LK Bennett have subsequently told Dragon NEWS that they have been told the Guildford shop is safe. Staff in the Giraffe restaurant are awaiting news on the fate of their jobs.

This was followed by the Thomas Cook, the iconic travel agent in one of the most prominent High Street locations, announcing closure of its Guildford branch after 40 years trading from the same location. Majestic Wines shop in Woodbridge Road is also under threat.

Earlier in the year, HMV, with a shop in The Friary, went into administration but was saved from closure after the famous brand was bought by Canadian retailer Sunrise Records.

Mothercare in North Street had also closed this year and Maplins in the Upper High Street closed in 2018.

Two of the major department stores in Guildford, House of Fraser and Debenhams, have also been reported as having a difficult year and people have questioned whether Guildford can support two adjacent department stores.

Closing the Steamer Trading Cookshop will leave a big hole in that part of the High Street with the Santander branch next door closing in December 2019 and the Post Office, less than 30m away at the top of North Street, closing in May 2019. (see One Santander Bank Branch closes but Patisserie Valerie is saved and Post Office move to WH Smith confirmed – consultation results undisclosed)

Caracoli café, a popular meeting place on the upper floor of the Steamer Trading shop, closed in the store December ’18.

Steamer Trading Cookshop in Guildford High Street won awards for innovation and design.

Steamer Trading Cookshop opened in Guildford in 2004 and moved to its current location in 2009. It won awards for the renovation of the store including the Global Innovator Award for ‘the World’s best cookshop’ in 2010 and was a finalist for the prestigious Guildford Design Awards in 2011.

ProCook are offering 20% off all stock prices (10% off electricals) at Guildford until the branch closes.