Laois misses out on B&Q branch after Homebase liquidation

Laois shoppers will still have to travel to shop in one of the big B&Q stores after confirmation that at the soon to close Homebase store in Portlaoise is not part of a multi-million euro deal to expand the brand in Ireland.

It emerged over Christmas that the owners of B&Q Kingfisher reached agreements to buy three Homebase stores in Ireland for around £3.2 million.

The company said the new sites in Letterkenny, Navan and Waterford will complement B&Q Ireland’s existing network of eight stores in the country. The nearest store to Laois is in Naas.

A factor in the decision not to take over Homebase in Portlaoise could be that Kingfisher also owns Screwfix in the town. 

Graham Bell, chief executive of B&Q, said: “We’re delighted to be adding these three stores to our fantastic store network. We’re determined to give home improvers the choice and convenience they deserve, and these locations need a home improvement store that fulfils their need."

The High Court appointed provisional liquidators to the company behind the Homebase chain of DIY stores in Ireland in November. 

In the UK administrators immediately sold up to 70 stores, as well as the brand and its intellectual property to The Range owner CDS. It subsequently emerged that The Range chain would take over the operation of some Irish stores including the Portlaoise store on Timahoe Road. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

The interior of one of The Range stores.

The Range is also a UK-based homewares outlet similar to Homebase. It already had some shops in Ireland prior to taking over the Homebase stores.

A liquidation sale has been underway in Portlaoise since the November announcement with The Range set to take over in 2025. Details have yet to be announced.