THE future of a furniture store in Worcester is uncertain after the company announced it would close 27 branches nationwide.

It is not yet known when the Oak Furnitureland store at Blackpole is under-threat after the furniture giant said it had earmarked 27 of its 105 stores for closure as trading conditions “continue to be challenging.”

On June 15, the retailer was acquired by global investment manager Davidson Kempner Capital Management following a sales process by Deloitte.

At the time of the deal, its new owners said they would launch a strategic review into its operations to secure its financial position.

It said that business has “stabilised” since showrooms have reopened following the lockdown but still needs to enforce closures as a result of the testing retail environment.

Consultations have started with landlords of these stores, while talks have also started with the 163 employees at risk of redundancy.

Oak Furnitureland chief executive officer Alex Fisher said: “The current proposal to close some showrooms forms part of a company-wide review that we are undertaking as a business.

“We are committed to driving forward a plan for our future growth, and although this has been a difficult decision, it is the right one for the business in these uniquely challenging times.

“We are confident that the decision will ensure we remain a competitive and dynamic choice for our customers.

“I would like to say thank you to all of my colleagues in every department who have been endlessly committed and patient during this process.”

The chain has branches in the following locations:

Aberdeen

Ayr

Barnstaple

Basingstoke

Belfast - Boucher Road

Birstall

Bolton

Brent Cross

Brighton

Bristol - Cribbs Causeway

Broadstairs

Burnley

Cambridge

Cardiff

Carlisle

Chelmsford

Cheltenham

Chester

Coventry

Crawley

Croydon

Derby

Derry

Doncaster

Dudley - Merry Hill

Dundee

Durham

Eastbourne

Edinburgh - Fort Kinnaird

Enfield

Exeter

Farnborough

Gateshead

Glasgow - Oak Furniture Land - Uddingston

Guildford

Haverfordwest

Hereford

Huddersfield

Hull

Inverness

Ipswich

Kettering

Kirkcaldy

Leeds

Leicester

Lincoln

Liverpool - Speke

Llandudno

Macclesfield

Maidstone

Manchester

Merthyr Tydfil

Milton Keynes

New Malden

Newport

Norwich

Nottingham

Oldham

Orpington

Paisley

Peterborough

Plymouth

Poole

Portsmouth

Preston

Reading

Romford

Rotherham

Rugby

Salisbury

Sheffield

Slough

Solihull

South Ruislip

Southampton - Hedge End

Southend On Sea

Stafford

Stevenage

Stirling

Stockton

Stoke

Sutton In Ashfield

Swansea

Swindon

Tamworth

Taunton

Thurrock

Truro

Tunbridge Wells

Wallasey

Warrington

Watford

Wednesbury

Weston Super Mare

Worcester

Wrexham

Yeovil

York