Locals gutted as shoe retail giant shuts store in UK city

Locals in a UK seaside city have been sharing their disappointment as a shoe shop closed its doors for the final time. Footwear giant Pavers, which has more than 160 stores across the UK and Ireland, shut its branch in Plymouth city centre, Devon, on Sunday.

A closing-down sale was launched at the shop on New George Street days earlier, with signs in the window of the store stating "everything must go" and "take a further 50% off all stock". Pavers has not revealed why the branch is closing down but it comes amid financial challenges and pressures across the industry, with several companies forced to close stores and lay off staff. People in Plymouth have expressed their sadness over the closure and concerns for the future of the high street.

Ahead of the store's imminent closure, one PlymouthLive reader said: "This country is being ripped apart by Labour taxes, companies have had a gut full of this Government. We are starting to lose businesses, left, right and centre. Plymouth city centre will become a ghost town."

Another reader replied: "I was in both Watford and Reading last week, and both towns had busy and vibrant high streets with few empty shops. Watford was busy on Sunday as well. Neither were attractive. What they had was vibrant economies with many well-paid people. So it has nothing to do with Labour."

A third disappointed reader said: "Another casualty of online shopping! It's one of my favourite shops. I buy all my boots from Pavers, they're the best. Such a shame."

They added "thank goodness" the other Pavers outlet in Plymouth was remaining open.

A spokesperson for Pavers told PlymouthLive: "We don't give formal comments on store closures, however I can confirm that the Plymouth Barbican store is remaining open."

Company executives have not disclosed whether there will be any job losses as a result of the closure of the Pavers shop on New George Street.

Pavers is a family-owned and run footwear retailer founded in 1971 and offers a range of options and styles.