POUNDLAND will open 75 new stores across the UK and Ireland by the end of 2023 the retailer revealed on Wednesday (October 25).

Poundland owner Pepco agreed a deal earlier in September to buy 71 Wilko stores from administrator PwC following the collapse of the high street chain.

It has already re-opened 37 former Wilko stores under the Poundland brand in recent weeks including in London, Manchester and Nottingham. 

It revealed on Wednesday it plans to expand its portfolio even further with the opening and relocation of a further 75 stores - the largest three-month growth programme in the company's history.

This will include the re-opening of a further 19 former Wilko stores, taking the total number of rapid Wilko-to-Poundland conversions to 56.

The 75 Poundland stores opening by the end of 2023

The new Poundland stores opening by the end of 2023 are:

November 2023

  • Unit 33-35, Butterly Business Park, Kilmore Road, Artane, Dublin, D05 YY13 (Pepco)
  • 12-18 Southgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2DH (relocation)
  • Unit 31, 11 Cornmarket, Lancaster, LA1 1AL (relocation)
  • Unit B, Pallion Retail Park, Sunderland, SR4 6TY
  • 26 Stonehills, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6NA
  • 21-23 High Street, Portishead, BS20 6AB (relocation)
  • 3 Market Street, Crewkerne, TA18 7JP

December 2023

  • 38 High Street, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, BA3 2DL
  • 34-38 Midland Road, Bedford, MK40 1PS
  • 72-72A Preston Street, Faversham, ME13 8PA
  • 34-35 High Street, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 7AQ
  • Unit 3, The Harlequin Centre, High Street, Watford, WD17 2TW (relocation)
  • 44-46 High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 6BX (relocation)
  • Unit 4, Cleveragh Retail Park, Sligo (Pepco)
  • 27/29 High Street, Wells, BA5 2AA
  • 10B, The Fort Shopping Park, 20 Fort Parkway, Birmingham, B24 9FP
  • 59 The Broadway, Plymstock, Plymouth, PL9 7AX (relocation)

Exact opening dates for these new stores have not yet been revealed, but a Poundland spokesperson said they would be confirmed in the coming weeks. 

The new stores Poundland plans to open by the end of the year include an additional former Wilko site (Birmingham Fort) and six former M&Co units (Portishead, Crewkerne, Midsomer Norton, Faversham, Newport and Wells).

North Somerset Times: Is there a new Poundland store opening near you?Is there a new Poundland store opening near you? (Image: PA)

The next lot of former Wilko stores re-opening under the Poundland brand are set to take place as early as Saturday (October 28).

The 19 ex-Wilko sites opening as Poundland stores before the end of the 2023 are:

Saturday, October 28

  • Unit A3, Carregaman Road, Ammanford, SA18 3ED
  • 13 Institute Lane, Alfreton, DE55 7BQ
  • 12 Vale House, Pavilion Shopping Centre, Thornaby, TS17 9FD
  • 15 Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
  • Unit 15-18 Killingworth Centre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE12 6YT
  • Level 3, Darwin Shopping Centre, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 1PL
  • Unit 38, Salter Shopping Centre, St Andrews Square, Droitwich, WR9 8HE
  • 3-7 High Street, Redhill, RH1 1RD
  • Epic House, 2 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 3JA
  • 18-19 Bancroft, Hitchen, SG5 1JQ

Saturday, November 4

  • Unit 16, Lagny Street, Alnwick, NE66 1LB
  • 22-24 Headingley Central, Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 2UE
  • 48-52 Freeman Street, Grimsby, DN32 7AG
  • Unit 11, St Andrews Retail Park, Hull, HU3 4EH
  • 12-14 Bore Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LL
  • 30-40 High Street, Wombwell, Barnsley, S73 8AA
  • Edmonton Green Shopping Centre, 3-11 North Square, London, N9 0TZ
  • 41 Hamilton Way, Oak Mall Centre, Greenock, PA15 1RQ
  • 32 Yoden Way, Castle Dene Shopping Centre, Peterlee, SR8 1A

In Redhill, Hull, Greenock and Peterlee, Poundland will relocate into the Wilko units from existing nearby stores.

North Somerset Times: Poundland has already offered more jobs to more than 500 former Wilko staff.Poundland has already offered more jobs to more than 500 former Wilko staff. (Image: PA)

Poundland said it is continuing to prioritise former Wilko staff for roles. 

At the time of publication, Poundland had made job offers to more than 500 former Wilko employees. 

Poundland’s managing director, Austin Cooke, said: “To open 75 stores in the space of a single quarter is nothing short of a super-human effort from every member of the Poundland team.

"To each and every one of them I say ‘thank you’.

“But we’re working at this pace because we’re on a mission –ambitious to grow, create jobs and serve new communities by opening shops customers and communities can be proud of.”