The Newton Abbot branch of Carpetright has closed after the carpets, flooring and beds retailer entered administration yesterday (July 22).

Administrators at PriceWaterhouseCooper (PWC) have agreed the sale of 54 of Carpetright’s 272 stores and two logistics hubs to CWHP, part of the Tapi group. However, the Newton Abbot store is unfortunately not among the sites included in this transaction.

Carpetright store front Newton Abbot
Carpetright went into Administration yesterday (July 22) (Jo Bowery / MDA)

Carpetright announced its intention to appoint administrators earlier this month. The firm had been hit by challenging trading conditions as consumers changed their shopping habits and reduced spending on home improvements due to cost-of-living pressures. A subsidiary of Nestware Holdings, Carpetright was also hit by a cyber-attack in April, which meant it was unable to trade for a period of time.

‘It is with deep regret that 1,018 individuals employed at sites which were not included in the transaction, and those providing in-home services, have had to be made redundant immediately on appointment,’ a PWC spokesperson said.

Exterior of Newton Abbot Carpetright store
Carpetright's Newton Abbot store has shut (Jo Bowery / MDA)

‘The last few years have been difficult for Carpetright, as has been well documented in the media, and so whilst this is very upsetting news for the staff, it may not have come as a surprise,’ said Newton Abbot town development manager Sally Henley. ‘There is a super team in the Newton Abbot branch and I am sure they will be snapped up by another retailer very quickly,’ she added.

Founded in 1988, Carpetright is headquartered in Purfleet, Esses and operates across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. It has 273 stores and 1,898 employees.