Thomas Cook To Close In Guildford After 40 Years In The High Street

Published on: 23 Mar, 2019
Updated on: 26 Mar, 2019

by Hugh Coakley

The Guildford branch of Thomas Cook, travel agent, is to close after 40 years trading from the same High Street premises. No date for the closure has been announced.

The shop, in a Grade II listed building on the corner of the High Street and Quarry Street, was listed as one of the 21 branches to close in an announcement by Thomas Cook yesterday. The Kingston-upon-Thames branch is also affected.

Thomas Cook, on the corner of the High Street and Quarry Street, is to close after nearly 40 years in the building.

A Thomas Cook spokesperson said: “We are consulting with staff. In the meantime, it’s business as usual.”

Justin Burton, manager of the Guildford branch, said: “Everybody in the Guildford shop will be re-allocated to another store if they want it.

“It’s a happy team here and it’s a shame that we have to separate.”

Tina Wainwright, who has worked in the Guildford branch for 32 years, said: “I’m very upset. It’s astonishing that they are closing such a prime store.

“Many of our customers have come in to say how sorry they are.”

A prophetic logo from Thomas Cook as it prepares to leave the town.

The announcement, entitled, “Thomas Cook accelerates UK efficiency programmes,” reflects the difficulties that the group have had over the last year. Holiday bookings were down 3% in 2018 and the company’s share price fell at one point by 30%.

The statement said: “More and more holidaymakers are switching online, accounting for 64% of all Thomas Cook bookings in the UK last year.”

Thomas Cook opened in the existing premises in late 1970s. At its peak in 2003, it employed 23 staff in the Guildford branch but only five staff work there now.

The attractive building has a rich history. David Rose, a Guildford historian, said: “In the early 1900’s, a firm named Angell, selling general goods was there. Later came a glass and china shop, Perridge. WH Smith then occupied the shop from at least 1930. A wooden horizontal beam that projects from the building has ‘WH Smith’ inscribed on it.”

Pressure continues on high streets around the country with shops and chains closing or going into administration. (see Further Signs of Strain on Town Centre Retail as Shops Collapse into Insolvency).

Staff at the Guildford branch of LK Bennett, the upmarket fashion chain which went into administration in March 2019, were relieved to tell The Guildford Dragon NEWS today that the chain had found a buyer and that the shop would remain open.

But staff in Giraffe, the restaurant chain which went into a CVA process also in March 2019, still await a decision on whether the Guildford branch would close.

The Apple retailer and trainer, Solutions Inc in Friary Street closed suddenly at the end of February 2019 but with its online operations apparently still continuing.

Footfall in Guildford in February 2019 fell by 3% compared to last year according to figures published by Experience Guildford. High rents and business rates are also blamed for the difficulties in high street retail.

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