Dobbies has confirmed it will close its store at The Junction Retail and Leisure Park in Antrim at the end of October following notice being served to the garden centre retailer, as the scheme moves forward with plans to develop the retail and leisure offering at the site.
The move comes shortly after The Junction was acquired by Frasers Group from Lotus Property. The new ownership, working alongside asset managers Lotus Property, is committed to building on that momentum, with a clear focus on ensuring The Junction continues to thrive as one of Northern Ireland's leading retail and leisure destinations.
The Junction has continued to perform strongly over the past year, finishing 2025 up +11% year-on-year in turnover and re-signing long-standing tenant Next, to sit alongside stalwarts Nike, Asics, Mountain Warehouse, Tresspass, Starbucks and Omniplex cinema.
The scheme has also welcomed new operators in recent times including Murdock Builders Merchants, Popeyes, Blether & Brew café and Greggs, underlining continued confidence in The Junction as a destination.
Alastair Coulson, Managing Director at Lotus Property, said: “Over the past three years, Dobbies has been a hugely valued presence at The Junction, and we are grateful for everything they have brought to the scheme and to the Antrim community.
“This decision reflects the exciting next phase for The Junction, as new plans are developed to enhance the scheme for the benefit of shoppers, businesses and the wider community. We look forward to sharing more on this in due course and seeing The Junction continue to thrive as a retail and leisure destination.”
A spokesperson for Dobbies said: “Dobbies will close its Antrim garden centre at the end of October following the decision by its new Landlord, Frasers Group, to redevelop the site for new retail and leisure uses.
“Since opening in 2023, Dobbies has worked closely with The Junction to establish a garden centre in a unique destination better known for outlet retail. The store has built a loyal customer base, and we are proud of what has been achieved.
“We are grateful for the support of The Junction, Lotus Property and Frasers Group throughout our time at the outlet and wish them every success with the redevelopment. We would also like to thank our customers and the local community for their support over the past three years.
“We recognise this will be difficult news for our Antrim colleagues. Our immediate priority is supporting everyone affected by this change, and we will explore redeployment opportunities and individual support options for colleagues.
“This decision relates specifically to the Antrim site and does not reflect Dobbies’ wider business performance. Over the past year, we have invested around £6 million across our store estate, and we continue to invest in our centres as part of our growth strategy, which is delivering positive results.
“Northern Ireland remains important to Dobbies, and we are committed to serving customers in the region. We will be investing significantly in our Lisburn garden centre over the coming months, with improvements planned for the restaurant, store facilities, product range and overall customer experience.”
