Furniture store Holdens of Newark to leave famous town centre base

A family business is leaving one of Newark town centre’s most iconic buildings.

Furniture store Holdens of Newark, which has been based on Middlegate through to Castlegate since March 1986, will move to Northgate Retail Park in the autumn of 2015.

Its new purpose-built 10,000sq ft premises will be on the Harlaxton Estates Malt Retail Park, next to Homebase and opposite Mole Country Stores.

Building work is planned for March next year and should take three to four months.

The new store will be spread over two floors and will feature a coffee shop as well as all the departments in the existing store.

Mr Jonathan Holden, managing director, said: “We have been looking for new premises for three to four years.

“When this opportunity came up we felt it was just too good to miss, putting us alongside most of the large retailers that are already represented in Newark and making it much easier for our customers to visit us at a time that is convenient for them.

“We’re targeting a 15% increase in customers as a result of the move.”

He said up to four jobs would also be created.

Mr Holden said his company would retain the current building and lease it to other retailers.

He said: “No one wants to see the building stand empty because it is a landmark in the town. It could house one or several businesses.

“There has already been considerable interest from regional and national retailers.

“I’m 100% confident we will have a deal done with businesses by the time we have moved out.”