SIGNS stating “six weeks left to go” have been put up around a popular fabric store in Winchester High Street as it prepares to downsize to a new location.

Closs and Hamblin has revealed that it will be closing at its home of 32 years on Saturday, January 21, with bright yellow signs dotted around the store.

Staff are unable to announce the location and date of their new store until they get the official green light but said that signs will go up in the windows of the unit as soon as they do.

Hampshire Chronicle:

READ MORE: Closs & Hamblin Winchester closure: Store announces downsizing to a new location

The business can no longer afford to run in its current form in the two-floor base. The fabric shop based in number 8, High Street, will no longer sell dress fabrics, knitting yarns or craft products, with the smaller showroom being used purely for furnishings.

Meanwhile, staff will be reduced from around 30 to five.

Hampshire Chronicle:

All eight shops of the Closs and Hamblin stores are transitioning to small furnishing and interior shops due to lack of money. In Winchester, just a third of the shop will move into the new location.

It’s expected that Winchester's Closs and Hamblin will be re-opening near the top of the High Street at the end of January but this is yet to be confirmed.