Boots closes two more stores for good

The retailer is closing more stores this year to reduce its UK store portfolio from around 2,200 to 1,900

High street pharmacy giant Boots permanently shut down two more branches on Saturday (March 16) as it moves forward with its plan to close 300 stores.

The Wrightson House branch at the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Teesside and the Aslake Close pharmacy in Sprowston were closed for good, according to BirminghamLive.

The pharmacy giant and chemist announced that all their prescriptions from its branch in Sprowston will be moved to Lawson Road Health Centre, with the nearest Boots branches located in London Street and Aylsham Road.

The closure of the branch at the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Teesside was confirmed to the public with a notice placed in the shop window, informing customers about nearby Boots stores to collect their prescriptions.

The notice reads: "We are closing. This store will close, on March 16, 2024. Your nearest store for collecting prescriptions will be Thornaby Health Centre, Trenchard Avenue, TS17 OEE. Other stores nearby are: 12-14 High Street, Teesside Retail Park, Norton, TS20 1DN 21B Goodwood Square, TSI7 7BW.”

In July 2023, the retailer announced its decision to close 300 branches located “in close proximity to each other” to reduce its UK store portfolio from around 2,200 to 1,900.

In January, the retail giant closed two branches in Kent and one in Glasgow. A Boots pharmacy in St James’s Street, Brighton was also closed permanently on 20 January after serving the community for more than a century.

Cornish & Devon Post had in January reported that the Boots pharmacy on Bell Lane adjacent to the Stillmoor House building of Bosvena Health will close on March 25.

Last month, Boots and the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) Union confirmed a pay increase for trainee pharmacists in England and Northern Ireland.

The hourly pay rate for trainee pharmacists working at Boots pharmacies will be £12.69 for Zone A in England/Northern Ireland, £13.79 for Zone B in England and £14.05 for Zone C in England from 1 April 2024.