Decathlon, a major international sports retailer, is set to close its sole Gloucestershire outlet located in Cheltenham’s Regent Arcade.
With closing-down notices now visible in the shop windows, customers will soon need to journey to Oxford, Birmingham or Cardiff to visit a physical Decathlon store. The closure, scheduled for 29 August, marks a significant loss for the Regent Arcade shopping centre, which also features prominent retailers such as Mango, H&M and TK Maxx.
The decision to close this branch has prompted disappointment among local shoppers. One customer expressed on the Reddit platform, “One of the few shops I actually go to. Gutted.” Another commented, “I was really pleased when they opened up in Cheltenham. It’s a real shame they are closing.”
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This exit adds to recent challenges for Cheltenham’s town centre. Earlier this year, Cavendish House, a historic department store with over 200 years of operation, ceased trading permanently, leading some traders along The Promenade to voice feeling “forgotten” in the town’s retail landscape.