Major update on Carpetright closures as dates for stores opening under new name confirmed
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
FOUR former Carpetright stores will reopen as branches of Tapi in days after the chain unveiled 21 new shops so far this spring.
Carpetright entered into administration on July 22, 2024, after 'challenging trading conditions' put pressure on the homeware retailer.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
1
Four former Carpetright stores are set to reopen as Tapi shops this month
Credit: Athena
The brand was then acquired by Tapi, who purchased two of its warehouses and 54 of its retail units.
Tapi was founded in 2014 by Martin Harris, the son of Carpetright founder Lord Harris of Peckham.
The move aimed to save 308 jobs and preserve the Carpetright brand, with hopes it would flourish under new ownership.
So far 21 new shops have opened this spring in the following locations:
Bristol
Cannock
Carmarthen
Chesterfield
Cramlington
East Grinstead
East Sheen
Epsom
Hereford
Ipswich
Lancaster
Mansfield
Newbury
Newmarket
North Shields
Sevenoaks
Southampton
Teddington
Trowbridge
Wimbledon
Woking
Tapi has now announced that four new stores will open in May.
Former Carpetright stores in Basildon, Coventry, Crawley and Leeds Birstall will all open as Tapi shops this month.
The stores will stock a selection of carpet, laminate, luxury vinyl, vinyl and engineered wood.
Once these additional stores reopen, the total number of Carpetright locations that have reopened as Tapi will rise to 25.
Charlie Harris, director of buying at Tapi Carpets and Floors said: 'Everyone at Tapi is really excited about our new store openings over the coming weeks.
Why are retailers closing shops?
EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre's decline.
The Sun's business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors.
In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping.
Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed.
The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing.
Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns.
Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead.
In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few.
What's increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online.
They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
'Each of these stores has been carefully chosen to bring us closer to our mission of delivering great value flooring to everyone in Britain and we're quietly confident that they will be a real success for us.'
It is not yet clear if and when the remaining 31 Tapi stores will open.
Which Carpetright stores were bought by Tapi?
According to administrators PwC the following Carpetright stores were purchased by Tapi:
Basildon
Birmingham Erdington
Bishopbriggs
Bristol Longwell Green
Camborne
Camden
Carmarthen
Cheadle
Chesterfield
Chichester
Chippenham
Clapham Common
Coventry Airport Retail Park
Cramlington
Croydon
Dumbarton
Dumfries
East Sheen
Edinburgh Hermiston Gait
Epsom
Farnborough
Friern Barnet
Haywards Heath
Hemel Hempstead
Hereford
High Wycombe Loudwater
Holloway
Hove
Ipswich Anglia Park
Lancaster
Leeds Kirkstall
Maidstone
Mansfield
New Malden
Newbury
Newmarket
North Shields
Norwich Sprowston
Peterborough
Plymouth Marsh Mills
Southampton Hedge End
Stockton
Swindon Bridgemead
Teddington
Trowbridge
Truro
Washington Armstrong
West Wickham
Weston-Super-Mare
Weymouth
Whetstone
Wimbledon
Woking
Yeovil
Chessington Warehouse
Croydon Warehouse
Which other stores have returned to the high street?
Several Homebase stores have reopened as branches of The Range as part of a rescue deal.
The DIY chain entered into administration in November but was partially rescued by billionaire Chris Dawson, owner of CDS Superstores, the parent company of The Range and Wilko.
The intervention aimed to preserve up to 70 stores, safeguard 1,600 jobs and retain the Homebase brand.
Huge chain Carpetright survives
So far 45 new format superstores have opened across the UK and Republic of Ireland since the beginning of the year.
These are The Range stores with Homebase departments, such as Garden Centres by Homebase or Kitchens by Homebase.
Six sites will open this month in Stamford, Market Harborough, Cookstown, Tiverton, Santry, Dublin and Clitheroe.
Stores in Stamford and Market Harborough reopened yesterday.
Meanwhile, shops in Cookstown, Tiverton and Santry, Dublin will open on May 9.
The Clitheroe store will reopen on May 16.
Once all of these stores have reopened, the total number of former Homebase locations to have been acquired by The Range will rise to 49.
Meanwhile, Topshop has teased a return to the High Street and confirmed its new website will launch later this year.
Asos rescued the company four years ago and has now signed a deal to sell the clothing in a number of its partner stores.
The topshop.com website will exclusively sell the brand's clothing and is expected to launch in the second half of the year.
Meanwhile, Wilko has returned to the high street after falling into collapse.
The brand, website and intellectual property were purchased by the owners of The Range and since then six Wilkos have reopened across the UK.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Donald Trump slams ‘big-time drug addict' Elon Musk as toxic feud intensifies
It came after the Tesla billionaire linked Mr Trump to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DONALD Trump called Elon Musk a 'big-time drug addict' as his spat with the world's richest man intensified. The US President is said to have blasted his billionaire ex-backer as reliant on ketamine in phone calls. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Donald Trump called Elon Musk a 'big-time drug addict' as his spat with the world's richest man intensified Credit: AFP It came after the Tesla billionaire linked Mr Trump to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Their feud went public on Thursday night as both men used their own social media platforms — X and Truth Social — to insult each other. Mr Musk, 53, turned on the US leader, calling his Congressional spending bill a 'disgusting abomination' on Wednesday. The President, 78, has called it his 'big, beautiful bill', but Mr Musk believes it will increase national debt by an unsustainable amount. It triggered the ugly public bust-up, with Musk calling for Trump to be impeached and accusing him of being a close associate of Epstein. Yesterday, Mr Musk deleted the post, which was seen hundreds of millions of times. The Washington Post reported Mr Trump used private calls to urge his allies not to pour fuel on the fire and told Vice President JD Vance to be cautious. But the President, whose campaign took £250million from Mr Musk, is also said to have become weary with the tycoon's alleged drug use. He called Mr Musk an 'addict' in the calls and claimed he 'lost his mind' after leaving the administration. The businessman previously admitted using ketamine, but it is alleged he became so hooked last year it affected his kidneys. Trump insists Elon Musk is lashing out at 'big beautiful bill' for personal reason as he admits he's 'disappointed' in Tesla boss Mr Musk officially left the government last week but said he would remain as a 'friend and adviser' to Mr Trump. The President last night said he had 'no intention' of speaking to Mr Musk, adding: 'I think it's a very bad thing because he's very disrespectful'.
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Our lives have been ruined by a sickening smell – it's lowered our house prices and it's about to get even worse
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NEIGHBOURS of a KFC drive thru have warned Britons of the "awful" reality - with disgusting smells, litter and reckless delivery drivers. It comes as the fast food chain has announced a £1.5 billion expansion plan, with 500 new stores set to hit the UK over the next five years. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 The drive thru opened in 2017 after years of protests from locals Credit: Ian Whittaker 10 Neighbours of the store complained of rubbish littering their street Credit: Ian Whittaker 10 One resident, Tim, has refused to eat there in protest Credit: Ian Whittaker 10 Some residents have found the smell 'overwhelming'. Pictured: Dean Ferguson Credit: Ian Whittaker They hope to rival the growth of other chicken shop chains like Popeyes and Wingstop. In addition to its 500 new stores, they will upgrade 200 of their existing stores, as well as taking on managers, chefs, and newly created 'guest experience' roles. Residents in West Wickham, London have warned against the expansion plan, citing littered streets and disgusting smells as just some of the issues the company brought to the area. The site has undergone many transformations over the last decade or so - beginning as the beloved White Hart pub before becoming a taperia, a steakhouse and, as of 2017, a KFC drive thru. Read more News AIR SCARE Passengers injured on Ryanair flight after being thrown against cabin roof It is particularly problematic for the residents living on Cavendish Way, as many of their gardens back on to the fast food restaurant's car park. During the planning process, over 1,200 residents launched a campaign against the proposal. The proposals were submitted twice, facing significant backlash throughout, before they were approved by Bromley Council, setting a regrettable precedent that 'if you just persevere you can do anything' according to retired city worker and local Tim. Once approved, Tim said that they completely changed the site - chopping trees down, filling in a pond, and covering the site in tarmac. He now refuses to visit the site in protest. Tim said: 'I don't mind a KFC but I refuse to use that one.' Beloved chicken chain that's 'way better' than Popeyes announces it's now adding 20 new locations to lineup When his daughter and her now-husband stayed at his house, they were under strict instructions not to visit that particular store. His frustration with that specific branch, which is located off a roundabout at the top of Cavendish Way, stems from the litter and smells. Tim said that he has seen people drive onto their street to eat the food before throwing their rubbish out of the window, sometimes littering his drive. While the store 'said they would send someone out to keep the road clean', Tim said, 'they haven't done that.' Catherine Carol, who lives opposite Tim, has experienced similar issues. She said: 'It's bloody awful. I came home yesterday and there's a load of rubbish on the street by my house - they don't clear up after themselves. 'We have got masses of boxes around here. It's disgusting.' In addition to the rubbish, she said the KFC has made it difficult to enjoy the summer weather, with residents of Cavendish Way's gardens facing the drive thru. She said: 'In the summer you can smell the grease and oil.' From when the store opens at 10.30am, until it closes at 11pm, residents are subjected to the smell of oil, grease, and fried chicken, as the wind carries the smell into their gardens. It left Catherine saying: 'I wish it wasn't there.' Neighbour Dean Ferguson, 62, has found the smell particularly difficult to deal with. He said: 'The noxious smells you get drafting across at peak times can overwhelm you.' Like Tim, he has seen people parking on their road to eat the fast food before 'launch[ing] it out the side of the car.' He added: 'It's really disgusting, people don't seem to care.' This is an issue he foresaw when the proposals were initially submitted, as he was one of the many residents to object to the plans. 10 Resident Devin Parmar, thinks the expansion will be good for the country Credit: Ian Whittaker 10 Some residents aren't bothered by the smell. Pictured: Philip Charsley Credit: Ian Whittaker 10 A retirement village faces the KFC, affecting resident Derek Avent Credit: Ian Whittaker He said: 'I did object to it several years ago. I could see what was going to happen.' Even when it isn't open, 83-year-old Derek Avent said: 'There's a 24-hour smell that just doesn't go away.' Derek lives in the retirement village on the opposite side of the KFC. He said that his ground floor flat is ruined by the smell, particularly on summer days when he opens his window. Derek added: 'On a sunny day like today when I open the window it's all I can smell, and it's bad.' Another issue Derek highlighted is the increased traffic caused on quite a small road. Delivery drivers are a particular concern for retirement home residents as he said: 'All you see going there are just guys on bikes with the big boxes for delivery orders, and they have no care for motorists or people walking nearby.' Dean said that traffic is especially bad during peak times, like on a Friday, which can 'create quite a bit of congestion.' Not all residents are as put off by the fast food chain though, as Devin Parmar, 41, said: 'It's actually a selling point - I like the smell.' He added that 'it's really convenient' and that ultimately he is 'glad it's there.' Devin did acknowledge the risk of increased litter with the chain's expansion, however, he said: 'that's more on people throwing rubbish on the floor, not throwing it in a bin.' As long as KFC provides adequate bins and accounts for successful waste management as part of the expansion, Devin thinks it will be a good thing, and the members of the community should learn to take care of their litter. With the news that the store expansion could create 7,000 jobs, Devin said it was nice to see 'a chain… actually investing in the UK which is a good thing' especially 'at a time where people are complaining about cost of living and unemployment rates.' Philip Charsley, 60, shared a similarly positive mindset. He said: 'To be honest I haven't had any problems with it. While he admitted you do 'occasionally get a smell', he said 'it's no worse than somebody that's having a barbecue.' His main issue with the chain is that 'it's just not good food' as he would rather cook from scratch than indulge in the deep fried food. While most residents seemed to agree that its former occupants were better, they were also more apprehensive about what could replace the KFC if it ever shut down. Tim initially expressed a hope that 'it might close down' as he noted it's 'never really that busy.' However, he said: 'The worry now is if that does fail, what do you get next? A McDonalds or a Burger King? I just don't want those sorts of places.' Slightly further down the road is a McDonalds drive thru that Philip says 'causes major traffic issues,' leaving him grateful that the KFC is not very busy. 10 Houses on Cavendish Way back on to the drive thru Credit: Tony Kershaw 10 Motorists will park on the road and throw their rubbish out of the window Credit: Tony Kershaw 10 Residents want KFC to prioritise waste management during the expansion Credit: Tony Kershaw Long-term residents seem more put-out by the addition to their suburban neighbourhood, while Philip and Devin, who moved to the area four and six years ago respectively, were more positive. With an average Tripadvisor rating of 1.7, visitors to West Wickham's KFC complain of rude staff, soggy fries, and incorrect orders. While the new initiative could provide new job opportunities, residents of West Wickham empathise with Britons across the country who might be feeling apprehensive about the chain's expansion. Despite Devin's positive attitude, he did acknowledge that 'litter and pest issues will be the main concern for residents across the country as it could cause issues in each of the bubbles near each location.' A spokesperson for Bromley Council said: "Permission was granted for this development over a decade ago, which followed the usual process for determining Planning applications and considered all representations, including from residents, received at that time. "We have had few complaints relating to this property, but residents can raise any concerns, which will be investigated through our Planning or Public Protection Enforcement teams as required." We have approached KFC for comment.
Rhyl Journal
8 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
McDonald's new food and drinks menu for June 2025- full list
The June menu will bring both sweet and savoury treats to the fast food chain's restaurants nationwide. Some items are new to McDonald's while others have been available before and are returning for summer. From the new and returning items to when you can buy them and customer reaction, here's everything we know about the new McDonald's menu. A new Big Arch burger is making its way to restaurants and will be available to buy for £7.99 on its own or £9.99 as a medium meal. A large meal will cost £10.79. The new burger consists of two 100% British and Irish beef patties, white cheddar cheese slices, crispy onions, fresh onions, shredded lettuce, crunchy pickles and a generous layer of signature Big Arch sauce. The new Big Arch sauce is rich and creamy, the fast food chain explains. If you'd like to treat yourself to something sweet, you can look out for the new Toffee Crisp McFlurry - soft dairy ice cream with Toffee Crisp pieces and toffee sauce (£2.39). Alternatively, you can choose the new Toffee Apple Pie, a crispy pastry filled with a rich toffee flavour (£2.09). The new menu will see some new Toffee Crisp items and some returning savoury treats (Image: McDonald's) Returning to the McDonald's menu for June is the Cheesy McCrispy which consists of a 100% chicken breast fillet in a crispy coating served with lettuce, crispy onions, pink pickled onion chutney, bacon, Emmental cheese and deluxe cheese sauce. A Cheesy McCrispy burger on its own will cost £6.69 or you can make it a medium meal for £8.49. A large meal will set you back £9.29. Halloumi Fries are also returning to the summer menu with a Sweet Chilli Dip included. A box of four will cost £2.99 while a Sharebox will cost you £7.59. The Katsu Chicken One wrap is staying on the menu at McDonald's. If you haven't tried it yet, you can expect a wrap with either crispy or grilled chicken (you choose), coated in katsu sauce with crispy onions, cucumber and fresh lettuce, wrapped in a warm, toasted tortilla. If you buy the Katsu wrap by itself, it will cost you £3.49 or £2.29 if it's the wrap of the day. Make it a medium meal and it'll set you back £5.29. Deliveroo Plus is now offering McDonald's food with some offers available - from Monday, June 2 until Sunday, June 15 you can get 6-piece Chicken McNuggets for free when you spend £15 (available daily from 11am–5am). From Monday, June 2 until – Sunday, June 8, you can spend £10+ via McDelivery and enjoy a free Breakfast Wrap, available from 11am daily. When you spend £15+, you can also bag a free Big Mac. On TikTok, people shared their reactions to others trying the burger early. With some countries already having it on their menu, some told other people their own experiences. One said: 'tried it in disneyland paris on the weekend & it was LUSHHHH'. Another person said the new burger 'looks unreal'. Recommended reading: New 'iconic' McDonald's burger with the 'most loaded bite we've ever served' What's on the McDonald's menu for breakfast (and when you can get it) McDonald's discontinues 'best' menu item leaving fans asking 'how can I complain' Reacting to someone trying the burger in Canada last year, one said: 'it looks so yummmmy!!!' while another commented: 'Ok brb (be right back) heading to McDonald's 😂'. McDonald's customers can buy items from the new June menu from Wednesday, June 18. The menu will be available for a limited time only, so be sure to try it out before it goes.
