Robbs

Robbs was a department store and local retail institution in Hexham, Northumberland. Established in 1818 by William Robb, a lace trader from Fife, the business remained under direct family management for approximately 169 years and six generations. Its long continuity made it one of Hexham's notable independent retailers, while its broad merchandise offer allowed it to function as more than a conventional clothing shop. Over time, Robbs expanded its premises and developed a wide range of departments and services. The store became associated with clothing, haberdashery, dressmaking, upholstery, home-related goods and a food hall. It also operated its own funeral-director service, an unusual diversification for a department store. The business was known locally for adopting modern facilities; its history included the first electric lighting in Hexham. At its height, the principal store occupied five floors and approximately 80,000 square feet of retail space, representing around 30% of Hexham's retail floorspace. In the early 1980s it employed more than 300 people. The ownership structure changed in the late twentieth century. In October 1987, the business was sold to the Joplings group, ending the long period of family control. It was subsequently acquired by Merchant Retail and Owen Owen, and in 2007 became part of Vergo Retail. Robbs also expanded its local presence with a second Hexham branch opened in 1989 at Tynedale Park. That site combined a garden centre with homewares and furnishings. It was later rebranded as Tynedale Park, sold to Tesco and closed in 2005. Robbs faced a decisive financial crisis after Vergo Retail entered administration on 7 May 2010. Administrators appointed MCR and announced that ten stores, including Robbs, could close within weeks unless purchasers were found. Efforts were made to preserve the business as a going concern, including requests for temporary relief from rent and business rates from the Buccleuch Group, which owned the building, and Northumberland County Council. Beales formally expressed interest in May 2010 and acquired Robbs on 4 June for £250,000, reportedly preserving 140 jobs. Beales attempted to restore the store to profitability, but the Robbs name did not survive indefinitely as a separate retail fascia. In 2011, the Hexham store was rebranded under the Beales name. The store ultimately closed in February 2020. Robbs is therefore best understood as a defunct regional department-store brand whose significance lies in its unusually long family history, extensive local retail footprint and role in the commercial life of Hexham.

Robbs began in Hexham in 1818 when William Robb, a lace trader from Fife, established the business. For roughly 169 years, management passed through an unbroken father-to-son succession covering six generations. This continuity shaped Robbs as a locally rooted family enterprise rather than a branch of a national chain. As Hexham developed, the store repeatedly expanded and diversified its premises and services. The business eventually operated as a substantial department store, with five floors and approximately 80,000 square feet of retail space at its peak. It was reported to account for about 30% of Hexham's retail floorspace. More than 300 people worked there in the early 1980s. Its departments and services included fashion-related retail, haberdashery, dressmaking, upholstery and a food hall. The company also maintained a funeral-director service. Robbs acquired a reputation for local innovation, including the introduction of the town's first electric lights. A second Hexham location opened at Tynedale Park in 1989. This branch focused on a garden centre, homewares and furnishings. It was later rebranded as Tynedale Park, sold to Tesco and closed in 2005. The original Robbs business underwent a more fundamental change in October 1987, when it was sold to the Joplings group. It later passed through Merchant Retail and Owen Owen before becoming part of the newly formed Vergo Retail in 2007. Vergo's financial difficulties brought the brand close to disappearance. On 7 May 2010, Vergo entered administration and MCR was appointed administrator. Four days later, administrators said that ten stores, including Robbs, could close within four weeks unless a buyer emerged. They sought temporary relief on rent and rates from the Buccleuch Group, the building's owner, and Northumberland County Council so that Robbs could continue trading while being marketed as a going concern. Beales lodged a formal expression of interest on 21 May 2010 and completed the purchase of Robbs on 4 June for £250,000. The acquisition was reported to have saved 140 jobs, and Beales stated that it intended to return the store to profitability. That objective did not preserve the independent Robbs identity: in 2011 the shop was rebranded under the Beales fascia. The store closed in February 2020, ending more than two centuries of trading associated with the Robbs name. Its legacy is that of a large and unusually diversified regional department store, a multigenerational family business and a major part of Hexham's retail history.

• 2020

  Hexham store closes

  [1]Robbsen.wikipedia.org

  The former Robbs location, operating as Beales, closed in February.

• 2011

  The store adopts the Beales name

  [1]Robbsen.wikipedia.org

  The Robbs store was rebranded under the Beales fascia.

• 2010

  Beales purchases Robbs

  [1]Robbsen.wikipedia.org

  Beales acquired the store from Vergo's administrators for £250,000 and the transaction was reported to have preserved 140 jobs.

• 2007

  Robbs joins Vergo Retail

  [1]Robbsen.wikipedia.org

  After ownership by Merchant Retail and Owen Owen, Robbs became part of the newly formed Vergo Retail.

• 2005

  Tynedale Park site closes

  [1]Robbsen.wikipedia.org

  The former branch, by then rebranded as Tynedale Park, was sold to Tesco and closed.

• 1989

  Second Hexham branch opens

  [1]Robbsen.wikipedia.org

  Robbs opened a second branch at Tynedale Park, offering garden-centre, homewares and furnishings departments.

• 1987

  Family ownership ends

  [1]Robbsen.wikipedia.org

  The business was sold to the Joplings group in October, ending approximately 169 years of direct family management.

• 1818

  Robbs is established in Hexham

  [1]Robbsen.wikipedia.org

  William Robb, a lace trader from Fife, founded the business in Hexham.

A broad-based regional department store serving Hexham and surrounding Northumberland communities, combining fashion and household retail with specialist services and a strong local identity.

• Fashion retail

  Department-store fashion and apparel

  Fashion retail was one of the central parts of Robbs' department-store proposition. The store's broad format enabled it to serve local customers across everyday clothing and related merchandise rather than focusing on a single specialist category.

• Textiles and sewing

  Haberdashery and dressmaking

  Robbs maintained haberdashery and dressmaking activities, reflecting the service-oriented character of the historic store. These departments complemented its clothing offer and provided materials and specialist assistance for sewing and garment-related needs.

• Home retail

  Homewares and furnishings

  Homewares and furnishings formed part of Robbs' broader household retail offer. The category was also represented at the Tynedale Park branch, where it was combined with a garden centre before that site was later sold and closed.

• Food retail

  Food hall

  At its peak, the main store included a food hall. This helped make Robbs a comprehensive local shopping destination rather than a retailer limited to clothing and household goods.

• Garden retail · 1989

  Garden-centre retail

  The Tynedale Park branch included a garden centre alongside homewares and furnishings. The location was subsequently rebranded as Tynedale Park, sold to Tesco and closed in 2005.

• 2011

  Rebrand from Robbs to BealesStrategy

  Background

  Following Beales' purchase of the store from Vergo's administrators, the new owner sought to operate the location within its own retail network.

  Action taken

  The Hexham store was rebranded under the Beales fascia.

  Aftermath

  The independent Robbs retail identity ceased to be used at the store, which continued as a Beales location until its closure in February 2020.

  Source

• 2010

  Beales acquires Robbs from administrationM&A

  Background

  Vergo Retail entered administration in May 2010, placing Robbs among a group of stores threatened with closure. Administrators sought a buyer while asking the property owner and local authority for temporary relief from rent and rates.

  Action taken

  Beales expressed interest and purchased Robbs of Hexham on 4 June 2010.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition reportedly saved 140 jobs and kept the store trading, although the Robbs name was replaced by the Beales fascia in 2011.

  Acquisition price. £250,000 (4 June 2010)

  Source

1. 1Robbsen.wikipedia.org