Poundland owner Pepco agreed a deal with administrators to take over the leases of up to 71 Wilko stores last year

Poundland is reportedly set to close a store it opened just four months ago, after taking over the lease in a deal with administrators for Wilko last year.

The Ellesmere Port site is set to close on Monday, February 11, 2024.

A spokesperson for Poundland reportedly said: "The Ellesmere Port store sadly hasn’t met our trading expectations despite all our efforts.

"While we know how disappointing this will be to colleagues, we expect to be able to find roles for them at nearby stores such as Bromborough and Chester."

It was reopened under the Poundland branding on Saturday, October 7, 2023, as part of a series of rapid Wilko to Poundland conversions.

Amid a series of store openings, Poundland announced it would open 63 former Wilko sites as Poundland shops before Christmas.

At the time, the retailer said it had made offers of employment to more than 800 former Wilko employees.

The Range owner CDS Superstores agreed a deal with administrators to buy the Wilko brand, intellectual property and website last year, and has since relaunched the site under the new ownership.

It has also now opened three new stores under the Wilko brand, in Luton, Plymouth and Exeter.

Two more Wilko stores will open in spring this year, in Rotherham's Parkgate Shopping Park and The Maltings in St Albans.

Wilko is yet to reveal the dates these shops will open, but said timings would be announced "shortly", alongside news of more store openings.

CEO of CDS Superstores, trading as The Range and wilko, Alex Simpkin said last month: “The initial reaction to the new concept stores has been even better than we’d hoped, we’ve seen queues of both returning and new customers at the store launches and the feedback is giving us the confidence we need to continue with our store opening plans.

“We’re in advanced negotiations with a number of landlords and are continuing to review all options as a part of our roll-out plan. Any interested agents or landlords should get in touch.

“We’ll continue to endeavour to give ex-wilko employees priority as a part of the recruitment process for the new stores.”