Popular Bristol shopping centre toy shop announces closure plans  

A popular toyshop in a Bristol shopping centre has announced plans to close.  

A poster in the window of The Entertainer in The Galleries shopping centre says the store is closing down, which BristolWorld understands will happen in early January.     

The closure is understood to be isolated to the Galleries store, with The Entertainer at Cabot Circus set to remain open.      

It is understood the closure will affect around ten employees at the Galleries store, with some set to be offered alternative employment at the Cabot Circus store.   

The closure of the long-running toyshop in the Galleries comes amid an uncertain future for the shopping centre.      

There are long-term plans to demolish the centre and replace it with student housing, offices, a hotel, shops and a 28-storey apartment tower.  

Nick Hargreaves, Chief Operations Officer at The Entertainer, said: “Due to the planned redevelopment of The Galleries shopping centre, it is with great sadness that we have to announce the closure of our store within the centre, which has been part of the local community for several years.

“We would like to thank our staff for their incredible service through the years and of course our customers for their loyalty.

“We’re working closely with our Galleries store team to look at opportunities for them elsewhere in the business.

“The Entertainer has three stores close to The Galleries for local shoppers to visit; Cabot Circus, Cribbs Causeway and Keynsham. The teams in-store will be delighted to welcome new faces, and customers can also continue to shop online.

“Our mission is simple: to become the best-loved toyshop – one child, one community at a time and we’re very proud of the contribution that our store at The Galleries made in fulfilling that ambition over the years."