Peterborough branch closing for good today. Real shame. 

In central Glasgow Modelzone today, sign said model rail 20% off
marked price excluding Hornby stuff. (Don't know discount on these)
About 40-50 Farish items, mainly modern wagons, but a some Mk 1 coaches,
maroon, choc&cream and SR green. A handful of diesel locos. Got a Farish SR
pillbox  brake van , same price as Hattons, but no postage. Still large stocks
of model kits. Might be worth a visit if passing.

Went into the Lakeside branch on Saturday, as I was passing.  That one is definately closing, although the staff haven't been given the decency of any timescales to work with.  I bought a couple of Peco model kits and some paint, although as has been pointed out, a 20% discount to their prices often doesn't match a reasonable competitor.

I'll be visiting the Bluewater one on Friday (if its still there).  Given the huge overheads of the shopping centre, and the fairly tiny size of the shop, I'd expect it to close.

Does anyone know the definiate fate of the New Oxford Street branch or of The Signal Box in Rochester?

new Oxrord st closed " for redevelopment" a few months ago- before the current problems

Quote from: Railwaygun on July 24, 2013, 10:56:01 PM
new Oxrord st closed " for redevelopment" a few months ago- before the current problems

Do you think they will bother now

The central London store reopened only a couple of months back. Would be shame if it closed already.

Quote from: Richey1977 on July 24, 2013, 11:44:54 AM

I'll be visiting the Bluewater one on Friday (if its still there).  Given the huge overheads of the shopping centre, and the fairly tiny size of the shop, I'd expect it to close.

I wouldn't bother with Bluewater if you're after N gauge stuff.  I was in there a couple of weeks ago and the only thing they had was the Modelzone limited edition Class 08 from Farish.  Some of the diecast model cars were tempting but even at closing down prices they weren't cheap enough for me...

I went into Modelzone Doncaster(Tags) this afternoon for some bits and bobs.Looks like Rail's are getting an order from me.I wanted some points and diamond crossovers or single slips but all the Peco stock had been removed from the shop.There was plenty of Hornby stock but as we all know,Modelzone are only holding Hornby stock for sale and don't actually own it.There was some Farish stuff but there was no discernible reducrion in price,ie £95.99 for a Farish class 70,£77 for a green class 24.Still cheaper from Rails.

Anyway,whilst in there I had a good chat with a couple of the blokes in there and rhey told me that if a buyer is not found,all Modelzone shops will be closed for the last time on August 24th.

Pete

Holborn store closed as being redeveloped

new Oxford st store opened in MAy

Fate unknown at the moment!

Although I knew from previous visits that there was almost no N gauge stock in the Westfield shop in Stratford, I thought that I would have a look anyway to see what their prices were now like, and found that all their tools were 50% off ! - I came away with an expotool gravity fed airbrush & compressor set for £54 and a few other items which made the visit well worthwhile - there were a couple of blue riband RFO's and an Ivor in the display case still, but that was 4 days ago.

Crikey...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10208880/ModelZone-collapse-leaves-debts-of-11m.html

You're not kidding! £11 million in debt. Not good for Hornby either taking a £200k hit.
Gareth

£11 million isn't that much for a high street retailer with 47 stores, I've seen much smaller companies go down with MUCH larger debts

Little consolation to the suppliers that will not see their money back I know, or the staff that will be out of a job


Paul

I was speaking to the guys n gals at sig box yesterday when buying some more stuff( just trying to help them out I'm telling the better half) and they were still hoping that someone would buy that store.
Bart

I was told by staff in Modelzone Bluewater the other day that one of the managers at The Signal Box was in the process of acquiring new stock to start up his own model shop.

Good news, if it happens.