A WINCHESTER High Street store is preparing to downsize next week. 

Closs and Hamblin (C&H), located at number 8 High Street, will close its doors Saturday, January 21, and move to a smaller unit at the other end of the street. 

The popular fabric shop and cafe, which has been a presence in the city since 1988, will relocate near the top of the High Street and take over the site of a former cafe, Eat, Drink and Be which closed in 2021.  

The smaller showroom will be used for home furnishings only, meaning the sale of dress fabrics, knitting yarns, and craft products will end after 34 years as the business can no longer afford to run in its current form in the two-floor building. 

READ MORE: Paperchase confirms sale talks after reports administrators lined up

Store manager Julie Pither said: “We are excited for the furnishings side but we are sorry to see colleagues go.” 

Hampshire Chronicle:

All eight of the Closs and Hamblin stores will be eventually converted into small furnishing and interior shops home. 

The Winchester branch is looking to move just a third of the business into the new location and the staff team will also be reduced from around thirty to five employees, with 25 others being made redundant. 

The shop will be holding a party for current and former members of staff on Saturday, January 21. 

Closs and Hamblin will re-open in their new location Saturday, January 28. The shop has revealed they will have a 20 per cent off event over four days from February 1-4.