Latest news with #Bearwood
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
‘Charming' family-run garden centre to close after over 100 years in business as shoppers say ‘you'll be missed!'
SHOPPERS were devastated to learn a "charming" family-run garden centre is set to close after 105 years. Locals cried "you'll be missed" after the owners made their sad announcement this week. 4 4 4 Webb's, located in Bearwood, West Mids., has been passed down through five generations who have lovingly run the gardening shop since 1921. Pauline and Steve Webb shared the update on Facebook, which came as a shock to locals. They said: "After more than a century of serving the Bearwood community, Webb's of Bearwood, the cherished garden centre and gift shop located at 64–66 Three Shires Oak Road in Smethwick, is closing its doors. "Owners Pauline and Steve have announced their retirement, bringing to an end a remarkable family-run business that has been part of local life since 1921. "Since 1921 FIVE generations have worked at the shop, beginning with Oliver John Webb passing to John William Webb & Jenny Webb. "Pauline and Steve brought up Samantha & Adam at the shop, and now Adam & Hannah with Lillian & Oliver... "Webb's has long been a go-to destination for gardening enthusiasts and gift seekers alike. "The shop was renowned for its wide selection of seasonal plants, perennials, houseplants, and gardening tools, as well as its charming Walled Garden Gift Shop, which offered unique gifts, festive decorations and Christmas Trees. "Customers frequently praised the shop for its friendly service and high-quality offerings. "The closure of Webb's marks not just the end of a business, but the conclusion of a beloved community institution. Popular retailer to RETURN 13 years after collapsing into administration and shutting 236 stores "Its presence on the high street will be deeply missed by locals who valued its personal touch and commitment to quality. "Pauline and Steve would like to thank all of the family and friends who have ever stepped in to help in busy times... working at Webbs makes you part of the family! "As Pauline and Steve step into retirement, the community reflects on the legacy they've built over the past century. "Their dedication and passion have left an indelible mark on Bearwood, and they leave behind a legacy of excellence and community spirit. "The doors will close for the last time on Saturday 28th June.... "Thank you for your custom over the years, Pauline, Steve & the rest of the Webb/Davis family x" One customer hailed the garden shop and penned: "Webbs is a delightful small garden centre, full of everything a gardener or beginner needs. "The owners are always helpful and Pauline has an exquisite taste in plants that she orders in." Another wrote: "Wishing you both a Happy & long Retirement you both fully deserve it!" A third added: "I can't imagine Bearwood without you guys." "You're going to be missed so much. What a fantastic family history. Enjoy your retirement," penned another fan. "End of an era. All the best for your retirement," wrote someone else. This follows a string of Dobbies garden centre closures this year. A map has revealed where eight branches are shutting down, including in Rugby, Stapleton and Leicester, as well as Morpeth, Havant and Aylesbury. The gardening specialist closed 16 stores as part of a restructuring plan late last year. The eight branches confirmed to be closing this year, which The Sun exclusively revealed, have already started shutting. Four stores in Rugby, Stapleton, Morpeth and Havant all shut on January 19, while a fifth closed in Hare Hatch on January 31. A store in Leicester pulled down its shutters for the final time on February 14 while two others in Northampton and Aylesbury are shutting, but don't have closure dates confirmed yet. Dobbies is not the only DIY or garden centre retailer struggling across the UK. High inflation coupled with a squeeze on consumers' finances has meant people have less money to spend in the shops. 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. Major chain Homebase fell into administration in November, putting all its then 133 UK stores at risk. CDS Superstores, which owns The Range and Wilko brands, stepped in and said it would take over up to 70 of these stores. Last month, CDS confirmed it would reopen 50 of these 70 sites before the end of April. But it means a number of Homebase stores are still at risk of closure, while others have been earmarked to shut. Meanwhile, last Spring, Kingfisher, which owns B&Q and Screwfix, revealed its annual profits had slumped by more than a quarter. The company reported a 25.1% drop in underlying pre-tax profits to £568million for the year to January 31, 2024. The high street more broadly has struggled as well, due to high inflation and combined and the trend towards online shopping. Recent data from the Centre for Retail Research revealed over 13,000 shops closed in 2024. Meanwhile, it expects this figure to rise to more than 17,000 across the whole of 2025. One major high street chain is closing a branch in just weeks as a closing down sale is launched and with eight other shops set to shut. The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) is pulling down the shutters on the site on June 28 with shoppers left gutted. Elsewhere, the sudden closure of a beloved pub and hotel has left loyal locals "gutted". The manager of the Rivelin Hotel in Sheffield broke the news that it would serve its last pint on 1 June. And, a huge charity retailer is closing two stores in days after shuttering 27 this year. Scope, which runs shops in England and Wales, is shutting branches in Exmouth and Bury on May 31. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." 4
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reading chief calls on fans to 'keep the fight' in open letter as tickets go on sale
New Reading owner Rob Couhig has called for supporters to 'keep the fight' in an open letter as season ticket sales open. The American has been working on a job in New Orleans but is expected back across in the next 10 days, his first time over since officially purchasing the club. In the meantime, media interviews have been conducted online and co-CEO Joe Jacobson has been working from Bearwood alongside Noel Hunt and Brian Carey to get the ball rolling on squad building. Season tickets were put on sale this afternoon (May 22) and prices have been frozen until June 6, with anyone renewing before then invited to an open day at the training ground. Alongside the season ticket news, Couhig has penned a letter to supporters. 2025/26 Season Tickets are on Sale NOW! Read Rob Couhig's open letter to fans... 👇 — Reading FC (@ReadingFC) May 22, 2025 "As I said last week , the loyalty of our season ticket holders over recent times will be remembered. Therefore, I am pleased to say our season ticket prices will be frozen until 5pm, 6th of June. "Your support means the world to this football club, and we are counting on it we look ahead to the new season. Our home form last season was incredible, and you should not underestimate the role you all played in that success, and I know how much Noel, the staff and the team recognise your contribution. "My ask to you is to keep that momentum. Keep that fight. Keep that passion. This is a new chapter but likewise, there will be bumps on the road. The unwavering support of our season ticket holders will keep us strong. "That's why, for all season ticket holders who renew or purchase before 5pm 6th of June – I'm personally to inviting you to Bearwood for an open day, where you will meet the team, players and staff and get to see our fantastic facilities in full. More details to follow in due course, but rest assured we'll make it a special day to mark this new season as we embark on this journey together. "I can assure you a huge amount of work is happening behind the scenes to ensure we are ready for the new season. Todd and Amy, Missy and I are all looking forward to being with you again in Reading. "This is Our Club. This is Our Future. We won't back down! "We're in this together and I'm certain that with your support we can reach our ambitions."
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Firefighters tackle blaze in derelict building
Two roads in Smethwick, in the West Midlands, are set to be closed for much of the day after a huge fire in a derelict building. At its height, 12 fire crews tackled the blaze on Anderson Road, in Bearwood, after being deployed at about 01:15 BST. No casualties have been reported and the response has since been scaled back. However West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) said Bearwood and Anderson Road would remain closed for most of Sunday. West Midlands Police said it was working with fire crews to enforce road closures and help establish the cause of the blaze. A drone will be deployed to monitor the structure and "complex nature" of the building, WMFS said, adding that "good progress" was being made in the investigation into the cause of the blaze. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. West Midlands Fire Service
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bearwood Road closed due to big building fire as warning issued to residents
A main shopping street in Sandwell is closed to traffic due to a big building fire in the area. Some 60 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze in a derelict building in Bearwood shortly after 1am on Sunday (May 18). The blaze is at the junction of Bearwood Road and Anderson Road in Bearwood, The A4550 Bearwood Road is host to lots of big and small businesses. Read more: Sixty firefighters tackle building blaze leading to road closures Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp , click the link to join These include Aldi, the West Brom Building Society, Halifax, Specsavers, Superdrug, CEX, Greggs, Iceland and more. But the road is currently shut between its junction with Poplar Road up to its junction with St Mary's Road. Traffic is said to be 'coping well' according to traffic information service, Inrix. But this is before the main Sunday trading hours when a lot of the stores open. Read more: City centre 'attack' shuts down part of tram network Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox The latest update from West Midlands Fire Service said: 'Crews continue to make good progress as our investigation into the cause of the fire at a commercial premises is underway. 'Police are managing road closures for parts of Bearwood Road and Anderson Road, which are likely to be in place for most of today (18 May).' West Midlands Police officers are managing the traffic in the area and will move the cordons when they are able to do so.
BBC News
18-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Firefighters tackle Smethwick blaze in derelict building
West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) were called to a fire in a derelict building in the early hours of Sunday crews were sent to the incident, on Anderson Road, Bearwood, Smethwick just after 01:15 response has since been scaled back, with four remaining crews damping down hot spots. West Midlands Police are also on scene, the fire service said.A WMFS spokesperson added no casualties had been reported. A drone will be deployed to monitor the structure and "complex nature" of the and Anderson Road will remain closed for most of Sunday morning, WMFS BBC has contacted West Midlands Police for comment. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
