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Wilko confirms dates of closures of Dartford, Ramsgate, Strood, Gillingham and Gravesend stores

Wilko has confirmed when the remainder of its Kent stores will close for good.

Administrators have said that 111 more stores across the country will serve customers for a final time next week.

Wilko will shut all 400 of its stores by early October. Picture: Ben Birchall/PA
Wilko will shut all 400 of its stores by early October. Picture: Ben Birchall/PA

The firm will close 37 stores on Monday, September 25, a further 37 on Wednesday, September 27, and another 37 on Friday, September 29.

The national chain, which entered administration last month, started its closure process last week and bosses confirmed all of Wilko’s 400 shops will close by early October.

Stores in Dartford, Ramsgate and Strood will shut on Monday.

Then on Wednesday, September 27, the Gillingham branch will close.

Finally, on Friday, September 29, Gravesend’s Wilko will close its doors to customers for the last time.

Wilko in Gillingham. Picture: Google Maps
Wilko in Gillingham. Picture: Google Maps

There was hope some of Kent’s Wilkos would remain open after a handful of the stores were missed in the first announcement.

Last week shoppers in Canterbury, which is one of 14 Kent locations to lose their Wilko, told KentOnline how disappointed they will be to see the household name vanish.

“I feel terrible, and actually very sad that it’s closing down,” said Erika Siddiqi, originally from Germany.

“It’s the closest store to my house and I’ve been coming here for 16 years ever since I moved to the UK. It’s a real shame.”

At the beginning of September Ashford’s Wilko shelves were stripped bare by customers hoping to grab a last-minute deal before its closure.

Wilko in Park Mall Ashford
Wilko in Park Mall Ashford
Shelves which used to be packed now empty at Wilko
Shelves which used to be packed now empty at Wilko

Long-time customer Julia Halliday, also from Ashford, said: “It has been there for so long and everything in there is good value.

“I buy all my pet stuff there; the home area is good, so now I don’t know where I’ll go.

“It is a nice shop and the staff are nice. I’m going to miss it being there.

“I was quite shocked it’s closing and I’m very gutted.”

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