Clintons Cards unexpectedly closes Swindon town centre store for good

Staff at Clintons Cards on Regent Street closed the door at the card store at 4pm on Sunday, March 19, and revealed to customers that it would not be opening again. 

A member of staff said to one customer: "We're closing for good, the rent on the store has risen too high."

Once the last customer had been served, and the doors were closed, a team of staff set about packing away all of the stock in the store.

The store itself was fully stocked and didn't have a 'closing down sale' or anything similar, and there was no indication to passing shoppers that the Mothers Day weekend would be its last one. 

However, it is believed that the national greetings card brand is looking to return to the Swindon shopping area, with staff telling one customer that they hoped to return to a different unit later in the year.

Bags of stock can be seen inside Swindon's town centre Clintons as staff pack the store away following its unexpected closure (Image: Newsquest)

But for town centre shoppers hoping to pick up last-minute cards and gifts, this closure will leave them with very few specific options. 

A Card Factory store on The Parade closed earlier this year after the company opted not to stay, even though the building's landlord had allowed it to operate there without paying rent. 

That store will now become a William Hill betting shop, which agent Prime Retail said had been the only interested party in the well-located unit.

William Hill was also given planning permission from Swindon Borough Council to replace the card shop despite the local authority's desire to restrict the number of similar establishments in the area.

A second Card Factory store is located inside the Brunel Shopping Centre, and now continues as the town centre's only dedicated greetings card store, although shops like WHSmith also cover that area.

One member of the public commenting on the closure of Clintons said: "It's a shame, I often got cards for things from there, but I guess it's just a sign of the times."

Another added: "It doesn't bother me too much, I get all of my cards online these days. That's not why I come to the town centre."

Clintons Cards have been approached for further comment.