Aylesbury's Wilko branch bares empty soul since 2023 closure

The one-frequently used retail store was one of 400 to shut its doors for the final time in the autumn of 2023 due to weak consumer spending and debts to suppliers.

These included outlets in High Wycombe, Aylesbury and within various locations across Milton Keynes, but it is the location based in the central Buckinghamshire town that is quite noticeable.

The signs are still visible at the Aylesbury branch (Image: NQ)

The shop was one of the largest in the area and was regularly visited by customers.

The tills and shelves lie still (Image: NQ)

Now, the space lies empty with broken windows, boarded-up doors and damaged ceilings, with plans to replace the shop currently underway.

The sign confirming the closure (Image: NQ)

One customer, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “I’m retired now so I spend my days walking through the town doing some shopping, and to see this great building lie derelict is very sad.

The shop used to be dog-friendly (Image: NQ)

“I remember taking my grandkids here during the summer holidays to get them sweets and colouring books.

“It’s the simple things you remember and when I walk down this street, that always comes into my mind.

“It’s a ghost town now.”

Parts of the inside are damaged (Image: NQ)

Images from January 15, 2024, show that numerous shelves are still within the unit, whilst broken glass lies along the floor.

One door has been boarded up due to suspected vandalism, whilst wires can be seen hanging from the ceiling.

The exterior remains the same (Image: NQ)

The resident continued: “Several Christmases ago, and this was a long time ago, I remember a pigeon flew into the shop.

Shattered glass is on the floor (Image: NQ)

“It was going like crazy trying to get out.

The back door is boarded-up (Image: NQ)

On the shop lying empty, he added: “It’s a shame to see it go, like with all the other shops across the country, as it shows that the High Street is very much becoming a dying breed.

One of the glass walls is broken (Image: NQ)

“I understand the convenience of shopping via the internet, but a huge retail chain like this going tells you the way we are headed in terms of business.”

Wilko announced its collapse into administration in the morning of Thursday, August 10, following intense speculation.

It was then confirmed that all the branches across the UK would close by the end of September/October 2023, which led to more than 9,000 redundancies.