All the shops that closed for good in Suffolk in 2023

Here are some of the businesses that closed for good this year.

Wilko stores across Suffolk closed

Wilko - everywhere

It was a tumultuous year for the high-street giant, which yoyoed between the prospect of permanent closure and staying open for several months.

Sadly, the shops in Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft and Ipswich closed in the autumn.

However, the retail giant might be resurrected by new owner The Range, who are in negotiations with landlords to reopen stores in 2024.

M&Co closed stores around the county (Image: Archant.)

M&Co. - everywhere

Fashion and homeware brand M&Co. fell into administration at the start of the year.

Stores across the country held sales with huge discounts to clear stock, with the Woodbridge, Sudbury, Stowmarket, Haverhill and Beccles all closed their doors for the final time in April. 

Bury St Edmunds' GAME store closed in April (Image: Newsquest)

Game - Bury St Edmunds

Another loss to the high street in April 2023, the video game store Game shut its doors. 

The retailer has moved into the Sports Direct store, which is also part of Frasers Group, in the Cornhill. 

Last year, the GAME store in Tavern Street, Ipswich, moved into the Sports Direct in nearby Carr Street.

Evans - Martlesham

Evans Cycles, part of Martlesham Heath Retail Park, announced it would close its doors by May 14, 2023, or until stock is gone.

A spokesperson for Evans Cycles said: "The landlord wants more rent and our company isn't willing to pay."

In October, East Suffolk Council gave property company LondonMetric Saturn the go ahead to turn the site into a restaurant.

Joules closed in Ipswich and Woodbridge

Joules - Ipswich and Woodbridge

There were fears that the brand Joules could be lost from the high street for good at the end of 2022 before the company was bought out by Next in December.

However, the Joules in Ipswich closed in January 2024 and the branch in Woodbridge followed suit, closing in February. 

Original Factory Shop - Mildenhall

The Original Factory Shop revealed it would shut its branch in Mildenhall in west Suffolk in July following a review of all of the shops. 

The company said: "We regularly review the stores across our property estate and unfortunately have taken the decision to close our Mildenhall store."

The Original Factory Shop also has stores in Hadleigh, Felixstowe, Brandon, Saxmundham, Leiston and Wrentham.

Weston's Bakery - Sudbury

The beloved town bakery closed in October, much to the dismay of the local community and councillors. 

Company TOAST was in negotiations to take over the premises, but this fell through when the business failed to meet an agreement with the property's landlord. 

Auntie Pam's Sweet Shop - Bury St Edmunds

Auntie Pam's was forced to close in July due to challenges faced by the cost-of-living crisis and the COVID pandemic. 

The sweet shop had been a popular treat destination in the town for 20 years and was a great loss to the Bury St Edmunds community.

Prudent Nellie - Sudbury

Homeware and interiors shop Prudent Nellie closed its doors on Saturday, July 29.

The Friars Street premises in Sudbury is now home to Two Sevens Deli, which opened on October 25 this year.

Blackshore Clothing - Southwold

It was revealed that Blackshore Clothing would be shutting its premises in Southwold on October 24. 

While this is a loss to the Suffolk high street, it was a gain to Norfolk's, with the company moving into a store in Holt.