An Apple Store in the UK is Permanently Closing Later This Year

[MacRumors]

Apple has confirmed that it will be permanently closing its retail store in the heart of Bristol, England, and there is no replacement in sight.

Apple Bristol in 2023​

Apple Bristol will be closing its doors on Saturday, August 9, due to redevelopment plans at the Cabot Circus Shopping Centre, and the adjacent Bristol Shopping Quarter. According to news reports, and a building application, the owner of the property is planning to reconfigure the retail space along Philadelphia Street, where Apple is located. The plans call for a mix of residential buildings, medical facilities, restaurants, and more.

Ahead of redevelopment, the shopping area has faced increasing vacancy rates. A few years ago, Cabot Circus lost a large movie theater.

In a statement shared with MacRumors, Apple said employees impacted by the store closure will be able to continue their roles at the company.

"At Apple, we're always focused on providing an exceptional experience for all of our customers," said Apple. "Due to the redevelopment plans at Cabot Circus Shopping Centre, which include the closure of the section where our store is located, Apple Bristol will close on August 9, 2025. We've loved serving the Bristol community for over 15 years, and our valued team members will continue their roles at Apple."

Apple Bristol first opened in 2008, with the location formerly known as Apple Cabot Circus. The two-floor store still had a classic design that was due for a facelift. The lower level serves as a product sales area, while the upper level provides space for Genius Bar appointments and Today at Apple creative sessions.

Apple Bristol in 2008​

The company has two other stores in the surrounding areas, including Apple Cribbs Causeway on the outskirts of Bristol, and Apple SouthGate in Bath.

Apple is also permanently closing its store at a dying mall in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook later this month, and it permanently closed its Infinite Loop and Royal Hawaiian stores last year. On the other hand, Apple continues to open new stores, including in Miami, the Los Angeles area, China, Spain, Malaysia, and soon in Downtown Detroit. Apple is also hiring for retail positions in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, after it announced plans to expand its retail presence in those countries last year.

Article Link: An Apple Store in the UK is Permanently Closing Later This Year

 

[arkitect]

Not surprising. Whenever I have been in there it seemed dead as anything. The Bath store is much more lively.

Mind you that whole area badly needs a redevelopment…

The other one in the Cribbs way is stuck in a godawful massive mall. Remote and surrounded by massive parking spaces. A little bit of America in the Southwest of England.

At least Cabot Circus was easily accessible. 🙂

 

[Deej]

Not surprising. Whenever I have been in there it seemed dead as anything. The Bath store is much more lively.

Mind you that whole area badly needs a redevelopment…

The other one in the Cribbs way is stuck in a godawful massive mall. Remote and surrounded by massive parking spaces. A little bit of America in the Southwest of England.

At least Cabot Circus was easily accessible. 🙂

Ha! Interesting! My observations are slightly different: with the free parking and no low-emissions zone charges at Cribbs Causeway, I’m not surprised that footfall is down and Apple decided to close this one.

 

[Bungobungo]

It’s a good team there, I hope any relocations and moves are as easy as possible for them.

 

[JosephAW]

A simple search of Bristol Cabot Circus Shopping Centre Apple will show you the reason they’re closing, mirroring the same reason in Chicago

 

[Spock]

Have they been closing more than they have been opening? They seem to be closing pretty often these past couple of years.

 

[orbital~debris]

Those small-ish format stores seem ill-advised, in retrospect.

On the other hand, an Apple Store is probably better than no Apple Store.

 

[Justin Cymbal]

Cool looking design! I don’t think that I’ve seen a similar (2 story) Apple Store with an all-glass front like this one before although it resembles a mini version of my hometown flagship Apple Store on Boylston Street in Boston:

Largest U.S. Apple Store Opens on Thursday (Boylston St, Boston)

Image from Gizmodo Apple is set to open their new Boston Apple Store on Boylston Street on Thursday, May 15th at 6:00 pm. Apple will be giving away...

www.macrumors.com

It’s unusual for Apple to permanently close any Apple Store although it has been done a few times in the past. I believe the first permanent store closure was back in 2019 in Texas:

Apple Plans to Close Stores in Eastern District of Texas in Fight Against Patent Trolls [Updated]

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[James_C]

Not surprising, Cabot Circus has been in decline for a number of years. Not helped by the Green Zone introduced a couple of years ago. It’s lost a number of anchor stores and the multi screen cinema. We always go to The Mall (Cribbs Causeway) on the outskirts of Bristol, easier for us to get to get too & free parking.

 

[NightFox]

A simple search of Bristol Cabot Circus Shopping Centre Apple will show you the reason they’re closing, mirroring the same reason in Chicago

I asked Siri to do that but she decided I wanted to phone them

 

[.wojtek]

> An Apple Store in the UK is Permanently Closing Later This Year

is as informative as

> An Apple Store in the USA is Permanently Closing Later This Year

xD

 

[orbital~debris]

> An Apple Store in the UK is Permanently Closing Later This Year

is as informative as

> An Apple Store in the USA is Permanently Closing Later This Year

xD

Agreed.

Also another example of MacRumors relatively recently predilection for clickbait headlines 😕

 

[one more]

Not a big deal, as there is another Apple Store in Bath 13 miles away.

 

[Sbishop84]

I was first to buy the very first iPad from Cabot circus apple.

 

[Hassan69]

They could of moved into the main Cabot Circus area as not every can drive or travel to The Mall. So my next purchase might have to be The Mall a long way from where I live.

 

[Spike1999]

ULEZ would’ve been a massive factor here.

 

[zakarhino]

Sad. This was the first Apple Store I ever visited and the first and only Apple Store I lined up to buy the iPhone 4. Great memories. The team had coffee and croissants for everyone lining up.

 

[RemedyRabbit]

Bemused by folk blaming the low emission zone tbh. Hardly affects any normal cars at all. Do you all drive lorries or something?

Cabots has struggled since Covid. Allowing the cinema to close was a massive facepalm by the owners and House of Fraser going under has left the biggest store space there empty. The vibe has got a bit edgy lately too, not a nice place to be after dark.

I guess all those Apple customers with 20 year old cars buying thier iphones at Cribbs has really tipped the balance though eh.

 

[racerhomie]

We need more Apple Stores in India, and Bangladesh! Why does South East Asia never get Apples attention?

 

[Black Belt]

No one wants that mixed use garbage. And putting medical clinics with retail stores is bonkers. Yeah attract people to your shopping center that can’t afford to shop.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Hope everything works out for the staff, sounds like Apple are relocating them

 

[Seanm87]

Not a surprise the Cribbs Causeway one is far superior. Bigger and better location with free parking.

 

[19callum93]

I feel we need more stores in the UK, especially in the midlands.

 

[yetanotherdave]

Came for the apple news. Stayed for the local news! (knew the galleries was being torn down but had no idea about Philadelphia Street being impacted as it's a separate entity from the Galleries!
The mall is a god awful place with no character or soul, I guess I can stomach it once every few years for a new laptop, although every time I'm there it seems busy so hopefully they'll find a new location soon.

Not surprising, Cabot Circus has been in decline for a number of years. Not helped by the Green Zone introduced a couple of years ago. It’s lost a number of anchor stores and the multi screen cinema. We always go to The Mall (Cribbs Causeway) on the outskirts of Bristol, easier for us to get to get too & free parking.

Odeon is moving in soon to the showcase deluxe space and ULEZ hasn't stopped there being gridlock everyday!

 

[Danack]

knew the galleries was being torn down but had no idea about Philadelphia Street being impacted as it's a separate entity from the Galleries!

The issue is that some of the stores on Philadelphia Street are empty, and there's just not enough demand for the two story retail layout to fill them.

The people who own that building have submitted a planning application to change the shops to be single story, with the space above converted to some other purpose, possibly a medical centre.

Planning application is 25/10048/F on Bristol Planning portal.

Apple already thought the site was too small for it, so a single story is obviously not big enough. Would not be surprised Apple end up opening a site in Cabot, or maybe just not bothering to re-open a place until Broadmead is smashed and rebuilt.