January 8, 2019 12.03 pm This story is over 62 months old

Future uncertain for Boston Clinton Cards store

Boston Clintons in line for the chop?
Clintons have given notice to the landlord they will vacate the property In April 2019.

There are questions over the future of the Boston’s Clinton Cards store following an application for it to be used as a restaurant.

The landlord of the building has applied for a change of use for the Wide Bargate store,  stating “Clintons have given notice they will vacate the property In April 2019”.

However, a spokesman from Clinton’s told Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Jaines the company were “in negotiation to renew a lease at the store”.

The statement, on behalf of listed applicat D&A (2178), of London, says: “The landlord wishes to be able to market the property to a wider range of potential tenants, than retailers, and hence this application.

“With consent for restaurant use in place, this will allow the premises to be marketed to both potential retail operators and potential restaurant operators alike.”

The documents acknowledge this could mean the loss of a town centre shop, but says this “should not be damaging in the overall town centre context” because uses in the area are “already highly mixed.”

Clintons had no further comment to make, however, a listed building consent application has also been made by AG Retail Cards Limited, which runs the store, to make a series of maintenance repairs and like for like decoration to both external and internal walls.

According to the Singer Vielle sales website, the store was sold for £430,000 and was let to AG Retail Cards Limited for 10 years from April 2014-2024. However, the lease included a break option for April 2019.

It’s understood the company paid £45,000 a year, down from £71,000 a year when JJB Sports were tenants.

According to the site, AG Retail posted a turnover of £201,222,000 in 2017, with a pre-tax loss of £19,442,000 and a total deficit of £34,707,000.

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEKLY, our exclusive email newsletter with highlights from coverage every week, as well as insights and analysis from our local democracy reporters.