HMV close 66 stores, 930 jobs cut

Troubled music chain, HMV are set to close 66 of its 223 High Street shops.

The entertainment retailer has announced that up to 930 jobs could be affected by the measure.

However, despite initial reports, the company’s flagship stores on Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus will not be shut.

HMV’s administrators released the following statement:

“This step has been taken in order to enhance the prospects of securing the business’ future as a going concern. We continue to receive strong support from staff and are extremely grateful to them for their commitment during an understandably difficult period. All other key stakeholders remain very supportive and I continue to be hopeful of securing a future for the restructured business.”

A list of the branches set to close can be seen below:

• England: Ashton-under-Lyne, Barnsley, Bayswater, Bexleyheath, Birkenhead, Birmingham Fort, Blackburn, Boston, Bournemouth Castlepoint, Bracknell, Burton-upon-Trent, Camberley, Chesterfield, Croydon Centrale, Durham, Fulham, Huddersfield, Leamington Spa, Leeds White Rose, Loughborough, Luton, Manchester 90, Moorgate, Orpington, Rochdale, Scunthorpe, South Shields, Speke Park, St Albans, St Helens, Stockton-on-Tees, Tamworth, Teesside, Telford, Trocadero, Wakefield, Walsall, Walton-on-Thames, Wandsworth, Warrington, Watford, Wellingborough, Wigan, Wood Green, Workington
• Scotland: Dumfries, Edinburgh Fort, Edinburgh Gyle Centre, Edinburgh Ocean, Edinburgh Princes Street, Edinburgh St James, Falkirk, Glasgow – Fort, Glasgow – Silverburn, Glasgow Braehead, Kirkcaldy
• Northern Ireland: Ballymena, Belfast Boucher Road, Belfast Forestside, Coleraine, Craigavon, Derry, Lisburn, Newry, Newtownabbey
• Wales: Wrexham

The Independent also claims that four UK supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Iceland – are interested in purchasing some of the music retailer’s premises.

It was revealed last week that HMV’s decline has boosted January record sales, with the rallying of support for independent stores and chains alike in the aftermath of such financial troubles

HMV originally went into administration last month. The chain previously employed around 4,000 workers.