Worthing's Poundland store consigned to history as photos show empty town centre unit
Worthing’s Poundland store has officially closed.
The discount retailer, on Montague Street, served customers for the final time on Saturday, December 6.
Photos taken on Tuesday shows that the town centre unit is now empty – but shoppers have been reassured that the large site will not stay vacant for long.
The Worthing Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) confirmed that ‘another major retailer’ is ‘finalising a deal to move straight in’.
Town centre manager Hannah Manzaroli added: “Poundland will be missed. It’s a big loss for the town.
"However, we're really excited to see what's coming next.”
Worthing Herald readers have been having their say about what they would like to see replace Poundland, when it leaves the town.
Sam Lawler wrote: "I think Sainsbury's should join up with Argos and put it where Poundland is now."
Claire Rice said: “We could do with a Primark!”
Angela Chadwick revealed that she is ‘dreaming of a John Lewis’.
Simon Holman wrote: “That site is perfect for an indoor market. When it was BHS, there was a café upstairs which could be reinstated and would draw shoppers in.”
Sammy Mason called for a Home Bargains, whilst Vicky Lyons posed the question if TK Maxx could be the ideal replacement – after its current branch in The Montague Centre was listed on the market.
Daniel Serne thought the site was better suited for a restaurant though, commenting: “Wagamamas please.”
Why has Poundland shut?
The retail chain has been restructuring its operations since the summer previously said it expects to operate a store network of 650-700 stores – compared to the c800 it had at the beginning of the restructuring process.
While Worthing wasn’t on the list of stores identified for closure, Sussex World understand it is a location where the company has been unable to secure terms to continue trading.
Poundland’s UK retail manager Darren MacDonald said: “We know how disappointing it is when we leave a store.
"We’ll look forward to welcoming customers to one of the hundreds of Poundland stores we’ll continue to operate right across the UK.”
In December 2024, we reported that Vanderwald Estates Ltd, Edgware marketed 56 Montague Street – which was let to discount store Poundland until 2028.
According to the listing on Rightmove, the property was available for £2,500,000.
The Local Democracy Service reported in August that more than a dozen flats are to be built above the Poundland store. Developers Worthing Holdings Ltd applied for a change-of-use to allow for flats at 56 Montague Street.
Stay tuned at sussexworld.co.uk for updates on the future of the town centre site.