Six former Wilko stores in Greater Manchester are set to begin new lives as Poundlands after owner strikes deal to buy 71 outlets nationwide.
We all know by now that it’s been a turbulent couple of weeks for Wilko after it entered administration earlier last month, but after it was sadly announced on Monday (11 September) that all of the retailer’s outlets across the UK would be forced to close, leaving around 12,500 jobs at risk, it was confirmed yesterday that several dozen had been saved.
Only they won’t be staying as Wilkos, they’ll be reopening as another popular bargain retailer instead.
That’s because Pepco Group, the company which owns Poundland in the UK, has struck a deal with Wilko administrators PwC to take control of up to 71 store leases.
Six Greater Manchester Wilko stores are set to reopen as Poundlands / Credit: Poundland | Wilko
Lease assignments are expected to be completed in early autumn, according to Pepco, which means the some 71 stores will join Poundland’s existing 800-plus UK outlets before 2023 is out – with Poundland saying it intends to convert the stores over to its brand “as soon as is practical”.
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Pepco Group has also confirmed it will be offering employment some of Wilko’s former employees at the sites it’s taking control of.
The full list of 71 current Wilko stores that will begin new lives as Poundlands has been revealed by Pepco Group, and it’s good news for six Greater Manchester sites, as Altrincham, Bolton, and Eccles are among the towns set to get themselves a new Poundland.
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Sale, Leigh, and Stockport are the region’s other three Wilko sites that have been acquired.
Poundland intends to convert the stores over to its brand “as soon as is practical” / Credit: Poundland
Giving a little more insight into the takeover deal, Barry Williams – who is the Managing Director of Poundland – said shoppers can expect to see changes happen “in the coming weeks”.
He continued: “We will work quickly with landlords so we can open these stores as Poundlands, with the new ranges that have been pivotal to our recent development, and once that process is complete, we will ensure a significant number of the Wilko colleagues will join our Poundland team.
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“We know how valued Wilko colleagues have been in scores of communities across the UK, and we look forward to offering them opportunities to join our family [as] we recognise the last few weeks have been difficult for them so we will move quickly to secure new consents from landlords so we can offer them the certainty they deserve.”
Mr Williams said the addition of the 71 Wilko stores to Poundland’s portfolio will “accelerate our existing transformation programme” and “offer amazing value for consumers” on high streets, shopping centres, and retail parks nationwide.
Featured Image – Poundland
Shopping
Discount flights from Manchester up for grabs as easyJet’s ‘Big Orange Sale’ returns for 2026
Danny Jones
Get ready to book in some annual leave, because easyJet’s ‘Big Orange Sale’ is BACK for 2026, with cheap flights from Manchester and more up for grabs.
Not only can you get affordable trips from Manchester Airport, specifically, but there are discounts across the board by the operator.
The Big Orange Sale is becoming an increasingly popular annual occurrence for Brits, with countless holidaymakers, rather fittingly, making the most of the offer.
In fact, you might have already seen the advert yourselves:
Packing our bags already.
Just as the ad explains, those travelling via easyJet can get up to 20% discount on flights to a load of different destinations across the globe.
Yes, the company are knocking up to a fifth off the price on flights over the course of nearly 10 months’ worth of travel from the UK, provided the trip is booked within the right window.
Seeing savings on more than 730,000 seats, the time frame itself is also one of the longest cut-price periods you’ll come across this year, not to mention well into 2027.
Better still, it doesn’t just stop at flying itself…
Get this, the flight operators and travel agents are offering up to £400 off on package holidays, meaning those old faithful all-inclusives are about to become even more bang for your buck.
Featuring not only countless mainland European favourites on the list, but also the likes of the Canary Islands, Morocco, and numerous popular skiing hotspots, just to name a few.
In ideal news for all you lot, approximately 90,000 of these reduced seats are on flights from Manchester Airport, with the operators also having just added 30 new locations to the areas they service.
Allowing you to book trips departing between 1 May 2026 and 14 March 2027, it’s a huge travel window for you to get extra value-for-money deals on your next getaway.
You can find the full list of flights and package holidays on easyJet’s Big Orange Sale right HERE.
Speaking of airports, you’ll also be glad to hear that public transport infrastructure is also getting a big upgrade to make your next holiday even easier:
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Anna Zvereva (via Flickr)
Shopping
A major free styling event is coming to Cheshire Oaks, with big discounts, colour analysis, and styling masterclasses
Daisy Jackson
Cheshire Oaks will be hosting a major fashion event over the bank holiday weekend, helping us all to get inspired and fall in love with our spring wardrobes.
The Spring Womenswear Fashion Event will feature everything from styling masterclasses to huge in-store discounts, along with a range of freebies and giveaways.
Some of the top womenswear brands at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet will be getting involved, along with fashion experts – and it’s all totally free to attend.
There’ll be live events like colour analysis to help you find your colour profile, plus workshops on styling outfits multiple ways, building capsule wardrobes, and shopping sustainably.
Whether you’re looking for insider advice or just a bit of inspiration for your shopping trip, you’ll find it here.
Personal stylists Laura Davies, Rachael Hughes, and Olivia Roseanna will be on hand to lead workshops and fashion showcases across the three-day weekend.
The Cheshire Oaks Spring Womenswear Fashion Event. Credit: The Manc Group
That will include a summer runway experience with JOSEPH, a capsule wardrobe masterclass, and a showcase to help you understand the transformative power of accessories.
Kate Harrison will also be at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet that day, with colour analysis sessions and a workshop on how the colour we wear can change our moods.
Then brands including Jigsaw and Whistles will show off the spring summer trends and give tips on how to style them.
And once you’re suitably inspired, you can hit the shops to pick up some new pieces, with plenty of stores offering major additional discounts.
Credit: Supplied
That includes an extra 20% off at Whistles, Mint Velvet Hobbs, Phase Eight, Jigsaw, Joseph, Calvin Klein, and Monsoon, plus other deals at Abercrombie & Fitch, Paul Smith, and Tommy Hilfiger.
Dune will be handing out fizz in store, plus giveaways when you spend £100 or more in store, and you can enter a raffle to win a Radley hamper of products when you spend £80.
The Spring Womenswear Fashion Event will take place at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet between 2 and 4 May – find out more HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
13th September 2023 
