Former Wilko in Beeston set to become department store popular in Yorkshire

The old Wilko in Beeston is to become a Boyes department store, more than a year after it closed down. The shop, which was in The Square in the town centre, shut for good in September 2023 after Wilko went into administration earlier in the year.

Initially, the old Beeston unit was touted to be a Poundland store after the budget chain's parent company Pepco Group struck a deal to take over some of Nottinghamshire's Wilko sites, including Kimberley and Worksop. But it never happened.

On Tuesday, November 5, a poster appeared in the window of the old store, which is now empty of furnishings. "We're Expanding - New Store," it says.

Headed by the Boyes logo and slogan: "For good value," it finishes saying: "Beeston coming soon". And the company is hiring, too, with part-time assistant supervisors and sales assistants required.

Boyes, which was founded in 1981 in Scarborough in East Yorkshire, now has 75 stores across the country. There are ten in Nottinghamshire already - in Arnold, Bingham, Eastwood, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Market Warsop, Newark on Trent, Ollerton, Retford, Sutton-in-Ashfield, and Worksop.

It descibes itself as selling a "massive range of quality goods at bargain prices," and selling "virtually everything for the home and family." Stock ranges from fishing tackle and thermal vests to Warhammer toys and Calpol.

Online, on a Facebook post notifying locals of the poster in the window, residents reacted positively. One person said: "This will be brilliant for Beeston."

Another said: "Ooh absolutely fantastic! I love Boyes; far superior to Wilko's in my estimation. I've wanted them to come to Beeston for ages."

A third said: "I grew up in Yorkshire and I always mention Boyes in passing to my partner… and in response he always tells me that it’s a made up shop (along with Cooplands bakery!!!) to wind me up. I can’t wait to show him this…."

And a fourth said: "Great news. I love Boyes!"