Primark 'set to open' brand new store as it continues popular service expansion

The fashion retailer is reportedly taking over the lease at the old Wilko store in Weymouth which closed its doors last October after the high street chain fell into administration

Primark is set to open a brand new high-street store in 2026 as it continues the expansion of its popular click and collect service.

The fashion retailer is reportedly taking over the lease at the old Wilko store in Weymouth. The Wilko site closed its doors last October after the high street chain fell into administration. According to a report by the Dorset Echo, work on the unit on Westham Road will begin within the next few months and the store is set to open in early 2026.

Conor Walsh, Director of South West and North East at Primark told the Dorset Echo: “We are pleased to confirm we plan to open a new store in Weymouth located in Westham Road, taking over the former Wilko building. Work will begin in store over the coming months, and we hope to open our doors in early 2026. We look forward to becoming a part of the local community." Currently, the nearest Primark store in the area is in the Dolphin shopping centre in Poole.

Primark has recently expanded its click and collect services to more of its UK stores. The service offers shoppers the chance to reserve Primark products online and then pay and pick them up at a dedicated desk in their local store two days later. Customers can shop from around 2,500 products across women’s, kids, men’s and homeware. The service is free to use, but you need to spend a minimum of £10.

Earlier this year, the service was made available in 92 Primark stores nationwide - which is half of its British store estate. Primark first launched click and collect in November 2022 in 25 stores in the North West, North Wales and parts of Yorkshire. It was then rolled out to a further 32 stores in Greater London in July.

Although many shoppers have asked for an online delivery service from the retailer, it has reiterated many times that home delivery would "never happen". Primark currently has around 185 stores in the UK. Kari Rodgers, UK retail director at Primark, said: “Our Click & Collect service has proved really popular, so we’re excited to roll it out even further. It means shoppers can easily order their items from home and pick them up at a time to suit them, and is a great way to make Christmas shopping a little easier this year.”

This year, Primark celebrated 50 years on the British high street. It opened its first store in Derby in September 1974 and now has 185 stores across Great Britain.