We’ve tracked business openings and closures across Northampton – here’s what it’s shown us about 2025

You may have seen that we already published summaries of the openings and closures throughout the first and second quarters of this year.

This is not a new addition to the Chronicle & Echo, with a bumper list published at the end of each year to reflect on what has been added and removed from the town’s business community.

Having taken a look at the businesses that have made the headlines throughout 2025 and the response from our readers, the first clear message is that Northampton loves garden centres.

It started with Blue Diamond opening Harlestone Heath Garden Centre in the former Dobbies opposite Harlestone Firs towards the end of March.

The site underwent a major refurbishment for the few months after Blue Diamond took over the premises at the start of the year.

This was then followed by family-run Northampton Garden Centre, which opened to the public in mid-April following its own refurbishment.

British Garden Centres (BGC) – which has more than 70 sites around the country – took over the former Dobbies in Wootton, next to Waitrose in Newport Pagnell Road, when it closed at the start of March.

With these openings happening in close proximity to one another, we were left to wonder if there was the demand for garden centres here in Northampton – and you all proved there certainly was by lapping up the pictures and regular updates.

We have also seen a number of big-name and national brands make moves throughout this year – namely H&M closing its doors in Abington Street for the final time in May after 26 years in the original location.

The fashion giant opened its brand new two-storey shop in the former New Look inside the Grosvenor Centre at the start of June, in the hope of offering a fresh and elevated shopping experience.

We have also seen ODEON Luxe replace Cineworld in Sixfields, and can expect JD to move from Abington Street to the former Next unit on the ground floor of the Grosvenor Centre this month – which closed in August 2024 and has been undergoing refurbishment.

Another clear pattern is the need for local, smaller and independent businesses to adapt in order to survive, which was anticipated as founders were apprehensive about what 2025 would have in store for them.

The most notable examples that spring to mind are Feather Robins Gifts shutting its original store at St Crispin Retail Village in March, and the closure of one of the town’s last soft play centres Zoomania in April – which has since evolved under the same ownership to Northants Venue Hire.

But these changes have not all been out of fear or necessity, there have been some hopeful additions to the Northampton business community in 2025.

This includes Yellow Bourbon Coffee Roasters expanding outside of the town centre with its second location at Weedon Depot, Lyss & Vay Candle Co. opening its first bricks and mortar store in St Leonard’s Road, and Patches Retail joining the offering at Billing Garden Village.

Some new names on the block include 360° Wellness Group, Shake Bar, Mission Chicken, Strike Box and Croxford Wine Estates, and we are hopeful there will be more to add as the months go by.

It has been a busy first eight months of the year and we anticipate there will be lots more to come. What do you predict the rest of 2025 could hold for our town?

Is there a business you would love to see featured in the Northampton Chronicle & Echo? Email [email protected] with more information.