by Sam Hawcroft
The Coral bookmakers in Queen Street, Withernsea, is to close this weekend, marking the latest change to the town’s high street.
The shop is due to shut on Sunday, April 26, leaving another gap in the town centre and bringing an end to a familiar routine for many of its regular customers.
A member of staff at the shop said she was unable to comment, but regular customer David Allard, 69, said the closure would be a real loss.
He said: “My feeling is for the staff, obviously, because they’re a great bunch. I’ve known them for years.
“It’s always friendly in here. It’s not just putting money on horses – it’s the social aspect of it.”
David, who lives in Aldbrough but is originally from Withernsea, said he usually comes into the town by bus and makes the shop part of his regular routine.
He added: “I come in here, look through the Racing Post, go to Aldi and do my shopping.
“It’s just part of my day. I’ve been down four or five times a week. I don’t know what I am going to do after it closes.”
He said the shop was always busy at weekends, especially during the recent Grand National meeting, and it was also used by holidaymakers and people staying on nearby caravan sites.
David added: “It’s going to affect a lot of people. I’m very sad. I’m sad for the staff more than anything. They know everybody who comes in here. They know all the locals and the regulars.
“It’s just a sign of the times.”
He said he did not use betting apps and felt the closure reflected a wider move towards more services going online.
The shop’s closure is just the latest amid growing concerns about the appearance and vitality of the town centre.
South East Holderness ward councillor Jon Dimberline, who has previously spoken out about the state of the high street, said he wanted to see town centres fully occupied and looking “fresh and vibrant”.
He said: “It attracts more trade, and locals and visitors are attracted to nice-looking, varied shop landscapes.
“I have already had one business approach me asking if it is correct Coral is closing, as they would be interested in occupying it, so I don’t think take-up will be difficult.
“Similarly, we see the old Betfred neglected and empty, although under new regulations called High Street Rental Auctions, I believe the owners are now actively starting to look at marketing them too, failing which East Riding may take control of such abandoned, unmarketed premises.”
Cllr Dimberline said Queen Street still had many hardworking independent traders and urged people to support them.
He added: “There are some amazingly well-stocked, dedicated business operators in that high street. Business owners work very hard, put in long hours and it’s not easy employing people these days with the raft of employment legislation.
“I would urge all townsfolk and visitors alike to look, see and buy local as much as they can. I am sure the Coral shop will be soon snapped up. Competition can be an issue, especially with these new business huts in Valley Gardens, but we must always look on the positive side and shop local.”
A spokesman for Entain, owner of the Coral chain of shops, said: “We regularly review our retail estate to ensure our business remains competitive in a climate of rising cost pressures, long-term changes in customer behaviour and unlicensed rival operators.
“Where possible, we will redeploy any colleagues affected by closures.”