The closing of Wilko stores in Surrey and across the UK when the retailer entered into administration in August was one of the most noticeable changes to the face of high streets in 2023. This is particularly true considering the 93-year-old brand had grown to operate 400 stores and employ more than 12,500 people.

Surrey was previously home to six Wilkos including in Walton, Woking, and Staines. These all shut however between September and October but some of the units did not sit empty for long.

Poundland moved into vacant units in both Redhill and Camberley as part of 71 stores sold to owner Pepco. Fellow competitor B&M has also teased plans to set up shop in one of Wilko’s other former units in the coming months.

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SurreyLive has listed the outcome for each former Wilko store in the county below.

Redhill

The Wilko store in Redhill closed on Thursday, September 28 and has since become one of the retailer’s former units taken over by Poundland. The store on the town’s High Street reopened under its new ownership on Saturday, October 28.

Managing Director at Poundland, Austin Cooke, described the move - which came as part of efforts to open 75 stores in a single quarter - as “Superhuman”. Poundland said at the time it had offered employment to more than 500 former Wilko colleagues.

Epsom

Cut price retailer B&M appears set to move into the former Wilko unit in Epsom. The development comes as Epsom and Ewell Borough Council has received a licensing application for the unit from B&M Retail Limited.

A B&M spokesperson has confirmed a new store is planned in the town but further details are not yet available. Wilko shut its Epsom store on Tuesday, October 3.

Staines

Wilko in Staines at the Two Rivers Shopping Centre closed its doors on Sunday, September 24. Future plans for the unit have not been confirmed.

Walton

Wilko’s Walton store closed on Thursday, September 21 and is still advertised by property agent Avison Young. The listing describes the site as “for lease subject to vacant possession” and details state the site offers nearly 4,000 square metres of floor space.

Camberley

Wilko in Camberley closed on Tuesday, September 12. The unit then became the second former Wilko store in Surrey that Poundland moved into (November 25) when the store relocated from The Square Shopping Centre.

A spokesperson for Poundland said at the time: “We’re delighted to be able to relocate in Camberley to a bigger and better location and bring new life into another former Wilko store.” Surrey Heath councillor Ken Finan-Cooke described the move as “great news” for the town” when the new five-year lease was announced.

Woking

Woking’s Wilko store closed for the final time on Thursday, September 14. The unit remains vacant though appears to have been shared on listing site Completely Retail but is now “currently unavailable”.

It was previously reported that the former Wilko in Woking would not be one of the sites to be taken over by either Poundland or B&M. Future plans are unknown.

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