Prestons of bolton

Closure looms for historical retailer Prestons of Bolton

Prestons of Bolton, one of the north’s most iconic jewellery and watch retailers, is set to close its doors after almost 150 years of business. 

An ‘everything must go’ sale will take place tomorrow, Saturday September 3, at the store on Deansgate, with up to 60% off jewellery and watches, offered until everything is sold.

Opened in 1869 by goldsmith James Preston, the retailer became a go-to for luxury watches and jewellery, winning it the moniker ‘Diamond Centre of the North’. It moved to its iconic clocktower location in 1913, achieving status as the only jeweller outside of London to trade on four floors, complete with a customer lift.

Its manager of 20 years Sue Meade local paper The Bolton News that the business had sadly succumbed to the decline of the high street.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly, the store has always competed with other high street retailers and the internet, but sadly it is no longer possible to continue trading from the Bolton store,” she said.

Meade spoke of the generations of families from both Bolton and its surrounding towns that have become not only customer but also friends. “We would like to thank all of our loyal customers for their support over the years,” she told the paper.

The business operates other Prestons stores in Wilmslow and Guildford stocking Patek Philippe and Tudor timepieces, and opened a dedicated Rolex boutique in Leeds in 2012. It is understood these stores are unaffected.

According to The Bolton News, Prestons will seek to retain its team of 17 staff within the retail group.

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