Latest news with #TheParade
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
High street chain launches 50% off ‘closing down' sale ahead of shutting popular town centre store forever
Several other retailers have deserted the town Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR shoe retailer with more than 60 stores across the UK is set to shut a popular location for good. Shoppers will be able to snap up some bargains as the branch has launched a closing down sale. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Footasylum is to close its store in Swindon town centre Footasylum will close a store in Swindon. The streetwear and shoe chain is set to shutter its spot at The Parade in the town centre. The sale includes massive savings of up to 50%. Imminent closure Signs have been placed in the entrance informing customers of the imminent closure, reports Swindon Advertiser. Footasylum operated out of around 60 stores at the start of 2025, but have already shut several locations across the country since the start of the year. In March, the streetwear and shoe chain shuttered a spot at The Core Shopping Centre in Lands Lane, Leeds. This branch opened in April 2022 but was closed following the chain's restructuring. High street chain with 185 stores launches 70% off closing down sales ahead of 25 shops shutting Footasylum's departure is the latest blow for high street shopping in Swindon. It follows a series of high-profile closures in The Parade, with stationery retailer Smiggle shutting their town centre store on July 24, and opening their new Swindon location in the Designer Outlet one week later. Charity shop Swindon Sisters Alliance, footwear retailer Schuh and Second Cup Coffee Company have also vacated the street in recent times. The Parade's flagship building, which was formerly the home of Debenhams, has also stood empty for five years, despite developers' continued attempts to turn the prominent unit into a self-storage hub. The Sun has approached Footasylum for comment on the closure and whether a date has been set for the store to shut. Tough trading Footasylum has not been the only brand to lose out on stores recently. Select Fashion revealed it was ready to wipe dozens of stores from the high street. It comes after documents, shared with The Sun, detailed how a total of 35 stores would shutter across February and March. It is understood that closures will complete by March 15, giving shoppers in impacted areas just shy of two weeks to say their goodbyes. Homebase was once a giant of British retail but has since nearly disappeared from the map. The DIY chain entered administration in November last year but was partially rescued by billionaire Chris Dawson, owner of CDS Superstores, the parent company of The Range and Wilko. Dawson's vision for the company is to preserve as many as 70 stores, protecting 1,600 jobs. Despite this, three locations closed in March, including branches in Bury St Edmunds, Dunfermline and Leeds.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
High street chain launches 50% off ‘closing down' sale ahead of shutting popular town centre store forever
A MAJOR shoe retailer with more than 60 stores across the UK is set to shut a popular location for good. Shoppers will be able to snap up some bargains as the branch has launched a closing down sale. 1 Footasylum will close a store in Swindon. The streetwear and shoe chain is set to shutter its spot at The Parade in the town centre. The sale includes massive savings of up to 50%. Imminent closure Signs have been placed in the entrance informing customers of the imminent closure, reports Swindon Advertiser. Footasylum operated out of around 60 stores at the start of 2025, but have already shut several locations across the country since the start of the year. In March, the streetwear and shoe chain shuttered a spot at The Core Shopping Centre in Lands Lane, Leeds. This branch opened in April 2022 but was closed following the chain's restructuring. Footasylum's departure is the latest blow for high street shopping in Swindon. It follows a series of high-profile closures in The Parade, with stationery retailer Smiggle shutting their town centre store on July 24, and opening their new Swindon location in the Designer Outlet one week later. Charity shop Swindon Sisters Alliance, footwear retailer Schuh and Second Cup Coffee Company have also vacated the street in recent times. The Parade's flagship building, which was formerly the home of Debenhams, has also stood empty for five years, despite developers' continued attempts to turn the prominent unit into a self-storage hub. The Sun has approached Footasylum for comment on the closure and whether a date has been set for the store to shut. Tough trading Footasylum has not been the only brand to lose out on stores recently. Select Fashion revealed it was ready to wipe dozens of stores from the high street. It comes after documents, shared with The Sun, detailed how a total of 35 stores would shutter across February and March. It is understood that closures will complete by March 15, giving shoppers in impacted areas just shy of two weeks to say their goodbyes. Homebase was once a giant of British retail but has since nearly disappeared from the map. The DIY chain entered administration in November last year but was partially rescued by billionaire Chris Dawson, owner of CDS Superstores, the parent company of The Range and Wilko. Dawson's vision for the company is to preserve as many as 70 stores, protecting 1,600 jobs. Despite this, three locations closed in March, including branches in Bury St Edmunds, Dunfermline and Leeds. 'Bleak outlook' – more stores set to close 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 showed that more than half of companies planned to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expected prices to increase in the three months up to July, 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."
The Irish Sun
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘It's our favourite week', says RTE star Ray D'Arcy as radio show set for major shake-up as fan favourite event returns
RTE star Ray D'Arcy will be travelling across the country over the next week as part of his annual fundraiser. The 60-year-old kicked off his second annual Run With Ray in Cork today. 2 RTE star Ray D'Arcy will be travelling across the country over the next week Credit: Andres Poveda Photography 2 The 60-year-old kicked off his second annual Run With Ray in Cork today The four-day event will see the presenter run through five different parts of the country. Before completing a 5km run each of the four days, Ray will host a range of local stories and guests, bringing listeners along on the journey. Ray will then join the starting line at 5.30pm with runners from each community who have signed up to Run with Ray for 5km. Over the next four days, Ray will be broadcasting live from Tramore Valley Park, Cork, SETU Campus, Waterford, on Tuesday, June 17, The Parade in Kilkenny city, Wednesday, June 18, Oldbridge Estate near Drogheda, Thursday, June 19, and Newbridge House, Donabate, Co Dublin, Friday, June, 20. read more on Ray D'Arcy Registration is still open, with the team always looking for runners, joggers, and walkers from across the country to come along for a fun afternoon of craic and conversation. You can sign up here. As Ray gets closer to the start line on each day he will be chatting with runners from around the country as they plan to join the team. Speaking on the event, Ray said: 'It's one of our favourite weeks of the year, when we don our shorts, runners and T-shirts and get to run with our listeners. "To make it even better this year - it's looking like we are in for a good run of weather! (pun intended!). Most read in Celebrity "So, if you're around this week and anywhere near Tramore Valley Park, Cork; SETU Waterford; Kilkenny Castle Park; Oldbridge Estate on the border of Meath and Drogheda; or Newbridge House in Donabate, we would love to see you!" Recently Ray opened up about what has RTE star recalls cooking catastrophe he had live on stage The popular radio host has two kids with his wife; Kate, 18 and Tom, who turns 13 next month. He insists the main reason he and his wife have made their relationship work so well is because they are best friends. Speaking to the RTE Guide, Ray said: "Jenny and I are best friends and companions and husband and wife, and we've two healthy children and they're lovely. We are very lucky and we appreciate that." The dad-of-two adds that part of the reason his home life is so calm is due to both him and Jenny giving up alcohol. STAR'S TRUTH Ray explained: "[Life at home] is very calm. I'd say a huge part of that is because neither Jenny nor I drink. "Not that we were big drinkers, but it has brought a calm into our life that you can only experience when you do it. "Drink for a lot of reasons, even if you don't drink that much, just brings spikes in moods."
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Small seaside town voted UK's safest place to live set for £140k redevelopment
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SMALL seaside resort voted the safest place to live in the UK has undergone a historic revamp. The North Wales town has a long history of welcoming tourists, earning itself the title "Queen of the Welsh Watering Places". Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Llandudno in North Wales has a long history of welcoming tourists, with a two-mile long Victorian promenade Credit: Getty 3 The LLandudno Pier has a variety of amenities, including a waterfront pub Credit: Getty Llandudno, which is home to around 19,700 residents, has been described as one of the safest places to live in the UK. Overlooking the Irish Sea, the town is nestled between two sandy beaches, North Shore beach and West Shore Beach, which have drawn in visitors since the 1800s. Located just an hour and 20 minutes from Liverpool, Llandudno has a wide range of historic sites, including the Victorian promenade known at The Parade and the iconic pier, built in 1877. The pier, which was recently restored after a storm last year, was named one of the best in UK. On the town's west side, an unusual circular shelter can be spotted on the seafront. The West Shore Tram Shelter previously served the Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Electric Railway. Beginning in 1907, this electric tramway operated between Llandudno and Rhos-on-Sea before later extending to Colwyn Bay in 1908. Service continued until the route's closure in 1956 . In 1929, the unique shelter was constructed for passengers and beach-goers alike. It is considered a notable example of early 20th-century tram infrastructure and designed in a circular plan with iron columns, metal glazing, and a copper-clad dome. The perfect Haven holiday park for a kid-friendly break - with direct beach access, indoor waterpark and neighbouring seaside theme park The building remains one of the few surviving structures from Llandudno's once extensive tram system and has received a Grade II listing. It continues to be a point of interest for visitors and tramway enthusiasts, confirming its historical significance within the town. While the shelter fell into disrepair over the decades, the community renovated the property as part of a wider £140,000 investment in the seafront. Part of the local collective was Friends of West Shore (FOWS), who successful submitted a key fund grant application. The project involved refurbishing the tired-looking, rusting, cast iron tram shelter. 'Downtrodden' English ghost town where locals feel 'left behind' being turned into 'vibrant' shopping hub in £9m revamp By Nicole Cherruault A "DOWNTRODDEN" English ghost town is being turned into a "vibrant" shopping hub in a £9million revamp. The town in northern Manchester set to totally transform as the council launches a multi-million pound "vision for change" after locals complained the town felt "left behind". More than 600 people were consulted over renovation plans in Eccles, Salford and work has now started on demolishing the town's shopping centre, which was suffering from falling visitors numbers. Following the demolition stage, a development partner will be appointed to bring new life to what residents described as a "downtrodden" town, reports Manchester Evening News. The objective, the council said, is to create a "vibrant" and a "fit for purpose" centre for people to enjoy. Attracting more independent retailers, and new bars and cafes are among the council's top priorities. And just three miles from Salford Quays and Manchester city centre, the redevelopment project looks set to transform the area into a buzzing place for young professionals and business owners. This comes as locals despaired over the ailing town, saying they felt it had been "left behind" and it was in desperate need of some "drastic" improvements. The council stressed that the demolition work will be a long process, with the initial phase due only to be completed by the end of the year. However, Councillor Mike McCusker reassured locals that despite the renovations, the town centre "remains open for business", stressing that the works only affect a few areas. He said: 'Whilst we work on the town centre of the future, today's town centre remains open for business,' said Coun Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development at Salford council. 'I want to stress that this demolition work only affects certain parts of the town centre. 'The shops and businesses on Church Street are still open for business and unaffected by this work.' Meanwhile, Councillor McCusker, who represents the Eccles ward, shared his enthusiasm for the project, in particular for its focus on the local community. In a statement, he spoke of his "excitement" for the times ahead in materialising their vision for a brighter, more dynamic Eccles. He said 'Through our purchase of the shopping centre, we were able to put the future of the town centre in the hands of the council and the community. 'It has enabled us to begin this important and long-overdue programme of work, to deliver the vision we have developed with the community. 'The demolition work will take some time, but there are exciting times ahead for Eccles as we work to bring this vision to life.' Funding not only enabled a full refurbishment to return the shelter to its former glory, but it has also helped create a site for public information, included details on local history topics. The restoration work has also provided a safe and secure space for future community events. And the refurbishment of the historic structure has likely contributed to the local feeling that living in the area is like "going back 50 years", as reported by The Telegraph. The two-mile stretch of Victorian terraces features grand hotels and a number of beautiful shops, restaurants, churches, and museums to explore. While the pier has a handful of slot machines and a pub overlooking the beach. 3 The West Shore Tram Shelter was recently revamped and now contains exhibits on the town's history Credit: But it was on the town's quieter West Shore, where Alice Liddell, of Alice in Wonderland fame, spent long summer holidays during her childhood. You can summit the Great Orme on the local cable car tramway, enjoying scenic views from just £10.15 off-peak and £11.85 on-peak. Or you can get another taste of history at the Conwy Castle, with tickets beginning at £12.50. And for just £4.25, you can experience civilian life during World War II at the local Home Front Museum. After a long day on the beach or bustling pier, there are a variety of gastro-pubs to choose from, including The Cottage Loaf and The Albert. For travellers planning to make a weekend of it, there are a variety of accommodation options available, including the central Elsinore Hotel, with rooms from just £59 per night. And if that's not enough reasons to visit, Llandudno was named one of the cheapest places in the UK for a beach break.
