National brand has quit city high street

H&M has closed its store in Bangor - leaving another gap in the high street.

The Swedish retailer shut the shop (pictured below) last week after recently warning it was at risk.

It follows the closure of H&M in Wrexham and the brand only has one site left in North Wales, at Broughton Shopping Park.

Estate agent Dafydd Hardy said while it was sad news for all those affected there is demand for units from local independents.

He said: “It’s a shame to see another business closure on Bangor high street, with the associated job losses being even more difficult for families at this time of year.

“The trend of national brands exiting commercial high street spaces appears to continue across North Wales.

“However, we’ve seen many independent local businesses opening up in their place, at both Caernarfon and Bangor.

“That being said, the former H&M site is larger than most and we’ve seen higher demand for smaller retail units over the past 12-18 months.

“As a passionate supporter and advisor to a number of local businesses, it’s brilliant to see new and growing local businesses but we must not forget that these national brands often attract additional footfall to an area.

“Business rates remain a concern and barrier to a number of new ventures, with many businesses still struggling during these unprecedented times. That being said the commercial market, much like the residential one, appears to be busy and our teams are dealing with calls, emails and enquiries as promptly as possible.”