Radley outlet at The Boulevard near Banbridge set to close next week as major retail changes continue

Shoppers from Armagh and across the wider region are facing another retail change, with the Radley discount outlet at The Boulevard near Banbridge expected to close at the end of next week.

The handbag retailer began a closing-down sale at the shopping centre in June. A notice on Radley’s website, which is no longer accepting orders, says the stores will close for the final time “soon”. The Belfast Telegraph understands that the outlet at The Boulevard will shut at the end of next week.

Radley stores closing across the UK

Radley is closing its remaining physical stores around the UK after its brand and intellectual property were acquired by Gordon Brothers, the owner of Poundland. The sale did not include the retailer’s stores.

The closure is part of wider change at The Boulevard and elsewhere in Northern Ireland. Earlier this year, The Boulevard and The Junction retail park outside Antrim were sold by Lotus Property to Frasers Group. It emerged this week that the Dobbies garden-centre store at The Junction will also close ahead of a revamp of the retail park.

Mooch sale at Forestside

At Forestside shopping centre in Belfast, stationery and gifts retailer Mooch is holding a closing-down sale. Letting has already been agreed for the next occupant of the unit, and a new tenant is expected to begin trading there in the autumn.

Cardzone, Mooch’s parent company, did not respond to a request for comment on the reason for that closure. Mooch opened at Forestside in 2023, the same year it launched a store on Arthur Street in Belfast city centre. The Arthur Street branch is understood to be continuing to trade.

Cardzone launched the Mooch brand following Paperchase’s collapse in 2023 and acquired some of the former retailer’s units. Tesco bought the Paperchase brand name and intellectual property but did not buy its stores.

Forestside expansion continues

Despite the Mooch closure, Forestside has undergone significant expansion since Michael and Lesley Herbert acquired the shopping centre in 2023.

A new terrace has been built, with Hotel Chocolat and Sostrene Grene already trading there and bakery Knotts due to open soon. An extension has also added Starbucks, Greggs, Popeyes and Nando’s.

The developments mean the next tenant for the former Mooch unit will arrive as Forestside continues to add retail and food outlets, while The Boulevard prepares for the departure of its Radley discount store.