THERE’S been some bleak reporting of Penarth’s high street after Wetherspoon’s made the bombshell announcement they will close the Bears Head and the flea market next door announced they were closing too. This has all led to rumours another shop in the town is going to close.
Rumours are swirling stronger than the winds we have been experiencing recently that Boots on Windsor Road is leaving town, however, the company have categorically denied this.
In a sigh of relief for Penarth and its embattled high street, Boots say they are not leaving the town and remain open for business as usual.
Wetherspoon’s Bears Head set to leave Penarth
Wetherspoon’s revealed to Penarth Times at the end of March they had activated a break clause on their lease of the building the Bears Head is located in.
This created derision among the people of Penarth, with the Bears Head one of the most popular pubs in town.
One man, Mr Nick Simmons, went as far as to create a petition to try save the Bears Head.
He described the pub as part of the “social fabric” of life in Penarth, where young and old go to spend free time and get their hands on a pint or two at renowned Wetherspoon’s prices.
The nearest Wetherspoon’s to the Bears Head now it’s closing? You’ll either have to go to The Sir Samuel Romilly on Dock Street in Barry, or head into the big smoke of Cardiff.
And just as the Bears Head revealed it was closing, the popular flea market next door was packing up, with its independent traders folding up their tables and removing their one-of-kind items after organiser of the market Jacquie Dymock revealed they had been told to leave the premise by April 20.
Ms Dymock said there was no bad blood between store and landlord, with the building owner about to renovate the site.
She did say though that she is struggling to find a new premise for the flea market and made an appeal to anyone with a suitable location in mind.
On the current condition on that side of Windsor Road, Ms Dymock said: “All we are going to be left with on this side of the street is two travel agents and Wasons,” said Ms Dymock.
“People aren’t going to come to Penarth just for that.”
Read more:
- Petition set up to save Wetherspoon's pub Bears Head
- Penarth flea market moving out of the Old Kitchener's site
Boots is staying in Penarth, company confirm
Right opposite the Bears Head and Flea Market on the other side of the road, popular pharmacy Boots sits and there were hundreds of rumours Boots was following Wetherspoon’s out the town.
But after Penarth Times spoke to the company, they confirmed they have no intention of closing the store.
A spokesperson for Boots said: “We can confirm that the Boots store in Penarth will not be closing and will remain open for customers as usual.”
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