Robbs
Robbs was a historic department store in Hexham, Northumberland, founded in 1818 and closed in 2020.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
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.
History
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]The former Robbs location, operating as Beales, closed in February.
- 2011
The store adopts the Beales name
[1]The Robbs store was rebranded under the Beales fascia.
- 2010
Beales purchases Robbs
[1]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]After ownership by Merchant Retail and Owen Owen, Robbs became part of the newly formed Vergo Retail.
- 2005
Tynedale Park site closes
[1]The former branch, by then rebranded as Tynedale Park, was sold to Tesco and closed.
- 1989
Second Hexham branch opens
[1]Robbs opened a second branch at Tynedale Park, offering garden-centre, homewares and furnishings departments.
- 1987
Family ownership ends
[1]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]William Robb, a lace trader from Fife, founded the business in Hexham.
Products and positioning
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.
Brand decisions
2011
Rebrand from Robbs to BealesStrategyBackground
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.
2010
Beales acquires Robbs from administrationM&ABackground
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)
Recent events
- 2020
Beales store in Hexham closes[1]
Other
The former Robbs store, operating under the Beales name since 2011, closed in February 2020.
- 2011
Robbs store rebranded under the Beales fascia[1]
Other
The acquired Hexham store was changed from the Robbs identity to the Beales brand.
- 2010
Vergo Retail enters administration[1]
Bankruptcy
Vergo Retail was placed into administration, putting Robbs and other stores at risk of closure.
- 2010
Robbs identified for possible closure[1]
Bankruptcy
Administrators announced that Robbs was among ten stores that could close within four weeks unless a buyer was found.
- 2010
Beales acquires Robbs of Hexham[1]
M&A
Beales bought the Hexham business from the administrators for £250,000, with the transaction reported as saving 140 jobs.
Sources1 sources
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