January 8, 2020 3.55 pm This story is over 50 months old

Shutters down at Lincoln phone repair shop

It is not known if or when it will re-open

The shutters were down at Fone Doctor's Lincoln High Street store in the afternoon of Wednesday, January 8. Photo: Joseph Verney for The Lincolnite

The shutters are down at a Lincoln mobile phone repairs shop, less than a year after it opened on the High Street.

However, it is not known if closure is temporary or permanent.

Fone Doctor relocated from its old shop in the Sincil Street area and into the former Gametronics outlet on upper High Street on May 24, 2019.

Shutters were down at the High Street shop on Wednesday afternoon, with no poster or notice in the window to explain the situation.

The Lincolnite understands that staff were sent home on Wednesday morning and Fone Doctor is believed to be negotiating its rent before any decisions are made, but nothing has been officially confirmed by the firm.

When reporters contacted Fone Doctor they were told to phone back in the afternoon for information on the situation, but there was no answer despite numerous follow-up calls.

As previously reported, Fone Doctor Director Colin Hocknell employs 35 staff across his own stores and took on two extra staff for the High Street outlet.

Colin, who started the business 28 years ago in Lincoln Market, has three in the Lincoln area including one based within Tesco’s Wragby Road site and another in North Hykeham.

He previously said: “As a business, I and my fellow directors had been searching for alternative central premises in Lincoln for some time. We now have one in a prime location which, hopefully, will attract extra footfall.”

Fone Doctor has 11 of its own stores and five franchised outlets further afield. It focuses on repairs of mobile phones, consoles, laptops and tables. It also sells pay-as-you-go mobiles, batteries and accessories including screen protectors, data cables and charger packs.

SUBSCRIBE to Business Week, the new email newsletter from The Lincolnite and Lincolnshire Reporter, bringing you weekly features, analysis and a news roundup of the top stories by Stonebow Media. Sign up free to receive it every Thursday morning in your in
box. We won’t spam you or share your details with third parties, we promise!