Trading shock for leading Cleethorpes fashion outlet as landlord takes back control of premises

 

Almost 10 years after it opened in Cleethorpes, is this the end for the fashion store?

AN uncertain future awaits one of Cleethorpes' largest fashion outlet.

On what should have been a busy Bank Holiday Monday for Leading Labels - located at Meridien Point on Kings Road - the store was closed.

It seems the -based company is in dispute with property company Maltgrade Ltd from which it leased the premises.

This has resulted in a Notice of Forfeiture which has today, Bank Holiday Monday, been posted on the inside of the front door by Grimsby law firm Wilkin Chapman.

This reads: "The landlord has re-entered the premises.

"As a consequence of re-entry, the lease and reversionary lease are forfeited and the premises have been secured."

As its name  suggests, Leading Labels retailed well-known fashion names such as: Bassini, Camille, Joules, Klass, Just Elegance, Viz A Viz, Go Top, Crew Clothing, Farah, Pringle and Wrangler.

Its website states: "Over  30 years, we believe we have established very strong relationships with our suppliers, concessions partners and landlords which has enabled us to adapt to the changing retail environment.

"The success of our business has also been due to the hard work and loyal service of our store teams and head office. The owner of the business firmly believe these teams work 'with us' and not 'for us'.

The apparent demise of the Cleethorpes store follows the similarly abrupt closure - for different reasons - in March this year of footwear retailer Pavers which traded within the same premises. 

Unless the dispute with Maltgrade Ltd can be resolved, it looks like another retailer will be lost to North East Lincolnshire with the dismaying prospect of lost jobs and disappointed customers.

Leading Labels  has 18 other outlets in the UK and Ireland, the nearest to Cleethorpes of which is in Lincoln. 

The message that greeted customers this morning