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Soult's Retail View

Archived blog posts (2009 to 2018) about shops on the high street and online, by North East-based retail consultant Graham Soult

Demolition of Tesco Gateshead (13 May 2012). Photograph by Graham Soult 2

Property / Regeneration / Shopping Centres / Supermarkets

May 16, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published May 16, 2012 · Last modified December 4, 2012

Tesco’s express demolition: photographs of the Gateshead store biting the dust

Demolition of Gateshead’s old Tesco superstore is nearing completion, just three weeks after it closed its doors to customers. After trading from the site since...

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Former Woolworths (now BrightHouse), Fleetwood (10 May 2012). Photograph by Graham Soult 2

Property / Retail History / Woolworths

May 15, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published May 15, 2012 · Last modified November 10, 2016

Fleetwood’s former and phantom Woolworths

As I mentioned earlier, I paid a long-overdue visit to the North West last week, visiting smaller towns such as Prescot and St Helens as...

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Clintons, St Helens (10 May 2012). Photograph by Graham Soult 3

Economy / Online / Specialist Retailers

May 15, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published May 15, 2012 · Last modified May 7, 2018

The missing wow factor behind Clintons’ collapse

As one of the biggest recent retail administrations – in terms of both the jobs (8,000) and stores (767) that are at risk – it’s...

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Former Woolworths (now Poundland and Mountain Warehouse), Cirencester (13 Nov 2011). Photograph by Graham Soult 6

Market Towns / Outdoor Leisure / Property / Retail History / Woolworths

April 26, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published April 26, 2012 · Last modified July 2, 2012

Cirencester’s ex-Woolworths: a window on the rise of discounters

I often talk about how the fate of ex-Woolworths stores provides a fascinating ‘window’ on the changing high street, and the ex-Woolies in Cirencester (store #394) –...

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Postcard of unknown Woolworths shopfront, 2 April 1938 4

Retail History / Woolworths

April 25, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published April 25, 2012 · Last modified November 10, 2016

A Woolworths staff photo from 1938 – but can you identify the location?

The last time I shared an old photograph of an unidentified Woolworths store, Soult’s Retail View readers were quick to identify it as the original Woolies...

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Monument Mall, Newcastle (16 Apr 2012). Photograph by Graham Soult 1

Property / Shopping Centres

April 17, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published April 17, 2012 · Last modified November 10, 2016

Redevelopment of Newcastle’s Monument Mall is now underway

Work started yesterday (16 April) on Hammerson’s much-anticipated redevelopment of the Monument Mall shopping centre in Newcastle, which will see the mall’s circulation spaces infilled and...

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c1915 postcard of the Electric Theatre (later Woolworths), Burnham-on-Sea 2

Market Towns / Online / Property / Retail History / Woolworths

April 16, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published April 16, 2012 · Last modified November 10, 2016

Woolies spotting in Somerset: a cinema, a bank, a hardware store and a fashion discounter

With a visit to Taunton on the schedule for later this month, it seems an appropriate time to write about the Somerset ex-Woolworths stores that I’ve already...

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Tesco Gateshead mailout (13 Apr 2012). Photograph by Graham Soult 6

Property / Shopping Centres / Supermarkets / Variety Stores

April 13, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published April 13, 2012

Oops! Tesco’s Gateshead mailout sends customers to Poundland

Ahead of the Gateshead superstore’s closure on 22 April, Tesco has mailed details of its temporary store to local customers – but they may have...

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Poundstretcher (formerly Woolworths and Alworths), Tiverton (9 Sep 2011). Photograph by Graham Soult 2

Property / Retail History / Variety Stores / Woolworths

April 10, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published April 10, 2012 · Last modified May 7, 2018

From textured berber to veggie burgers: new uses for Devon’s old Woolworths

With another shop-spotting visit to Devon scheduled for later this month, now seems like an opportune time to share the ex-Woolies photos that I took...

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Thorntons, Grainger Street, Newcastle (9 Apr 2012). Photograph by Graham Soult 2

Fashion Stores / Property

April 9, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published April 9, 2012 · Last modified November 10, 2016

As BHS arrives in Newcastle, G-Star Raw and Thorntons depart

While Newcastle’s BHS prepares for its imminent opening, new departures elsewhere in the city are set to open up other opportunities for incoming retailers. As...

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New BHS, Newcastle (9 Apr 2012). Photograph by Graham Soult 4

Fashion Stores / Property

April 9, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published April 9, 2012

Revealed: frontage of Newcastle’s new BHS is unwrapped

As I suspected when I blogged last week, the scaffolding around Newcastle’s new BHS has now been taken down ahead of its opening in ten...

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Former Woolworths (now Iceland), Monmouth (8 Oct 2011). Photograph by Graham Soult 1

Retail History / Woolworths

April 9, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published April 9, 2012 · Last modified April 6, 2012

Monmouth’s ex-Woolies and its place in our retail heritage

On 9 April 1932, Woolworths opened its doors in Monmouth, in Wales. Today – the 80th anniversary – therefore seems like a good time to...

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Heron Foods (former Woolworths), Wallsend (19 Mar 2012). Photograph by Graham Soult 6

Retail History / Woolworths

April 6, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published April 6, 2012

Wallsend’s Woolies history – from High Street West to High Street East

Over the last few weeks I’ve highlighted some of the North East towns – including Houghton-le-Spring and Alnwick – where Woolworths originally opened in one location...

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New The Co-operative Food, Newcastle (30 Mar 2012). Photograph by Graham Soult 7

Fashion Stores / Property / Regeneration / Shopping Centres / Supermarkets / Variety Stores

April 5, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published April 5, 2012 · Last modified November 10, 2016

Newcastle and Gateshead retail developments roundup

Back at the start of the year, I promised that 2012 was going to be an eventful year for Newcastle city centre in terms of...

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Original Woolworths location, Alnwick (31 Mar 2012). Photograph by Graham Soult 5

Market Towns / Property / Retail History / Variety Stores / Woolworths

April 4, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published April 4, 2012 · Last modified July 25, 2017

Historic Alnwick’s original Woolworths – and a modern-day successor in Wilkinson

In the same way as Houghton-le-Spring’s Woolworths was originally in a different location to where it ended up, I recently discovered that Alnwick, too, has...

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Artist's impression of new Cramlington Poundworld store. Image courtesy of Poundworld 1

Property / Retail Parks / Variety Stores

April 3, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published April 3, 2012 · Last modified November 10, 2016

Poundworld to open second Cramlington store on 6 April

Hot on the heels of its new Express store in Redcar, which launched last month, the discount variety chain Poundworld is set to open another new...

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Game in Sunderland's High Street West - now closed (13 Mar 2012). Photograph by Graham Soult 1

Financial / Online / Property / Specialist Retailers

March 26, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published March 26, 2012

Twenty-one North East stores close immediately as Game collapses

Twenty-one Game and Gamestation shops in the North East are among the 277 stores that have closed immediately following Game Group’s collapse into administration this...

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Sign at Poundstretcher in Ashington (21 Mar 2012). Photograph by Graham Soult 0

Brands / Property / Supermarkets / Variety Stores

March 22, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published March 22, 2012 · Last modified March 25, 2012

Poundstretcher reveals new visual identity as it reopens ex-UGO stores

Poundstretcher, the discount variety store chain, has reopened the UGO stores that it acquired last month – and has seemingly unveiled a new logo at...

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BHS fascia. Photograph by Graham Soult 2

Fashion Stores / Property

March 20, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published March 20, 2012

Newcastle’s new BHS to open on 19 April

Newcastle’s new BHS store in Northumberland Street will open on 19 April, I can reveal. Work on site has been going on since last summer,...

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Newbottle Street, Houghton-le-Spring (13 Mar 2012). Photograph by Graham Soult 5

Retail History / Woolworths

March 20, 2012

 by Graham Soult · Published March 20, 2012

On the hunt for Houghton-le-Spring’s original Woolworths

If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you’ll know by now that Woolworths in its prime had a long record of modernising its estate: both in...

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@soult

Woolworths… from the archives

  • Original Factory Shop fascia. Photograph by Graham Soult

    The Original Factory Shop in Morpeth – a shift towards more upmarket locations?

    July 28, 2010

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Next has opened its new Newcastle city centre flag Next has opened its new Newcastle city centre flagship in Eldon Square's ex-Debenhams this morning, So what can shoppers expect?...

https://www.cannyinsights.com/2025/07/15/new-store-review-nexts-eldon-square-flagship-which-has-opened-in-newcastle-today/
It was a privilege to be a High Streets Task Force It was a privilege to be a High Streets Task Force Expert during its five-year existence - and its findings have now been published....

https://www.cannyinsights.com/2025/05/23/high-streets-task-force-findings-provide-blueprint-for-successful-high-street-regeneration/
Last week it was a real pleasure to attend the off Last week it was a real pleasure to attend the official launch event of Two Tales, Seven Stories' new Durham pop-up at Prince Bishops Place....

https://www.cannyinsights.com/2025/05/23/seven-stories-pop-up-makes-the-high-street-a-place-of-joy-and-opportunity-for-durham-children/
As a presumably well-intentioned but unhelpful new As a presumably well-intentioned but unhelpful new report on "Ghost Towns" is published today, it's time to stop feeding this narrative....

https://www.cannyinsights.com/2025/05/23/you-want-healthier-high-streets-then-maybe-think-twice-before-publishing-a-report-about-ghost-towns/
Gateshead Railway Quarter isn't a new thing, but p Gateshead Railway Quarter isn't a new thing, but putting the name up there undoubtedly makes it more real....

https://www.cannyinsights.com/2025/04/29/gateshead-railway-quarter-how-to-improve-your-town-by-starting-with-what-is-already-good/
An initial action shot of me yesterday evening! Th An initial action shot of me yesterday evening! Thank you to Spalding & District Civic Society for the kind invitation to speak, and to the large and engaged audience for a great many pertinent questions during the Q&A afterwards 💬

Their obvious passion for the town demonstrated the power of what can be achieved by harnessing that enthusiasm and working together to make a difference. 

One woman told me afterwards "You expressed everything that I feel about #Spalding", which is always one of the best compliments I can hope for 💪☺️

#highstreet #highstreets #evolvingnotdying #lincolnshire
Specialist Speakers is a speaker bureau for keynot Specialist Speakers is a speaker bureau for keynote and motivational speakers in business, politics, economy and management....

https://www.cannyinsights.com/2025/03/26/graham-soult-now-featured-alongside-famous-names-at-at-specialist-speakers-speaker-bureau/
This page details retail units currently available This page details retail units currently available to let in Durham city centre. As Retail Cupid, we help match empty shops with new tenants....

https://www.cannyinsights.com/2025/03/13/march-2025-retail-cupid-update-current-retail-property-to-let-in-durham-city-centre/

About this blog

Soult's Retail View is a blog by me, Graham Soult, taking a wide-ranging look at the UK retail industry. I'm a retail consultant based in Gateshead - and the person behind CannyInsights.com and CannySites.com - so my posts often (but not always) have a North East flavour. [read more]

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Archive

Retail property… from the archives

  • New Look, Newcastle (15 Feb 2010). Photograph by Graham Soult

    Eldon Square’s St Andrew’s Way opens today (16 February 2010)!

    February 16, 2010

  • Former Woolworths, Newcastle (23 Aug 2011). Photograph by Graham Soult

    Has Discount UK signed up for Newcastle’s old Clayton Street Woolies?

    September 28, 2011

  • A retro touch at the ex-BHS in Darlington (12 Apr 2017). Photograph by Graham Soult

    One year on from the closure of BHS, what has become of the eight North East stores?

    August 28, 2017

In the News

In December 2009, global media intelligence company Cision ranked Soult’s Retail View at #2 in its list of the UK’s top ten retail blogs.

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