Covid: Colchester businesses which have closed due to pandemic

Whilst lockdown restrictions have been necessary to bring down Covid rates across the country, they've taken a huge toll on businesses.

Our economy is struggling and will take some time, perhaps many years, to recover from the affect of the crisis.

Some huge names will be disappearing from the high street due to the impact of the pandemic.

Here we look at some of the businesses in Colchester which have been casualties of the pandemic:

Paxman

Colchester's historic Paxman factory will close its doors in the spring after its owners said Covid had hit its business.

MAN Energy Solutions, which runs the factory, has confirmed 70 of the 80 jobs at the factory will go.

The closure has been blamed on Covid as well as the firm missing out on orders for MoD contracts to rival firms.

Read more >>> CONFIRMED: Colchester's Paxman factory to shut after 150 years

Grain restaurant

 

One of Colchester's most popular and inventive restaurants also announced its closure during the pandemic.

Friends turned business partners, Paul Wendholt and Jordan Sidwell, opening Grain in 2016 off North Hill but decided to close the business as its lease was coming to an end.

They decided to close the doors in October “with a heavy heart” due to the uncertainty in the industry amid the pandemic.

Read more >>> Restaurant Grain to close after four years in town

It isn't all doom and gloom however, with Paul set to open a new restaurant venture, Kintsu, this year.

Debenhams

 

Colchester's Debenham's store will close permanently in what has been described as a big blow for the town.

The store, in Culver Street West, is one of the largest in the town centre and the brand is one of the biggest on the high street.

Online fashion retailer Boohoo has bought the Debenhams brand for £55 million, however, it it not set to take on its stores or workforce.

This means the historic brand's remaining 118 stores will close for good as part of a structured winding down of the business.

Read more >>> 'Debenhams closing will be a big blow for Colchester'

Topshop

 

Another big name brand is set to disappear from Colchester town centre for good after being taken over by an online retailer.

Asos confirmed a £265 million takeover of four Arcadia brands - Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT.

But the online retailer will not be reopening stores, meaning Colchester's Topshop store, in Lion Walk Shopping Centre, will close for good.

Read more >>> Topshop in Colchester town centre to close after Asos takeover

Laura Ashley

 

Laura Ashley closed its Colchester store, in Trinity Square, last year.

The troubled retailer was founded in the 50s but entered administration in March this year, blaming coronavirus on its money woes.

It closed dozens of stores across the country, but will continue to operate online.

Read more >>> Laura Ashley is shutting its Colchester town centre

JoJo Maman Bébé

 

JoJo Maman Bébé, based in Sir Isaac's Walk, closed for good on Christmas Eve.

The brand said it had taken the decision not to renew the lease due to a lack of footfall and the effects of the pandemic.

Fans of the boutique baby shop, whose fans include the Duchess of Cambridge, will now have to travel to Chelmsford, Bury St Edmunds or Bishop's Stortford to make purchases.

Read more >>> JoJo Maman Bébé in Colchester closes due to effects of Covid-19

The Minories

 

The historic art gallery closed in June when Colchester Institute and Wilkin and Sons announced they couldn't afford to run it.

The premises is owned by charitable trust, The Victor Batte-Lay Foundation, which is working on plans to renovate and then reopen the building.

It hopefully won't be too long before The Minories is revived.

Read more >>> Minories gallery shuts after being hit by financial hardship