More than 100 South London jobs to go as Toys R Us closes

BY CALUM FRASER
calum@slpmedia.co.uk

About 120 South Londoners are set to lose their jobs after toy retailer Toys R Us announced all its UK stores will close in the next six weeks.

On Wednesday of last week, all staff were told that a buyer had not been found for Toys R Us and that all the 100 stores in the UK would be closed, with 67 staff at the group’s head office in Maidenhead, Berkshire, made redundant.

The store in Old Kent Road closed on Thursday, March 8 while others in Bell Green Retail Park, Sydenham, Priory Retail Park, Colliers Wood and in Bromley Shopping Centre will close in the next six weeks.

With almost 3,000 people made redundant nationwide, an estimated 120 jobs could be lost in South London. The toy chain appointed Moorfields Advisory to oversee an administration at the end of February after the firm failed to find a last-minute rescuer.

Simon Thomas, joint administrator and partner at Moorfields, said: “We have made every effort to secure a buyer for all or part of the company’s business.

“This process attracted some interest, but ultimately no party has been able to move forward with a
formal bid prior to the expiration of the stated deadline.

“We are grateful for the hard work of Toys R Us staff during this very difficult period and will be providing support where we can to those who have been made redundant.

“All of the remaining 75 Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores will remain open until further notice. We’re extending the nationwide discounting programme and would like to encourage customers to take advantage of the offers available in store while stock levels remain high.”