IKEA is shutting two UK stores today just weeks after opening massive new Oxford Street shop – is your local affected?

IKEA has shut two UK stores today just weeks after opening a massive new Oxford Street shop.
The retail giant, founded in Sweden in 1943, announced its plans to close the Aintree Plan and Order Point store in Liverpool earlier this month.
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Ikea has closed two stores today (stock)
Credit: Getty
The smaller Plan & Order Point store provided customers with home furnishing guidance and was devoted to kitchen and bedroom planning.
The Aintree store closed its doors for the final time today.
According to Ikea, the closure was "a result of valuable learnings which will take the conceptual format in a direction to better suit the needs of UK customers."
IKEA Stockport in Merseyway Shopping Centre, which opened just two years ago has also ceased operations today.
Current Stockport customers are now being directed to the next nearest main IKEA store, the branch in Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside.
Locals can also now pick up their IKEA purchases from Tesco Extra in Stockport and the Tesco Extra in Stretford as part of Click and Collect.
Other Plan and Order points, such as the ones in Dundee, York and Hull, will be adapted to meet those new demands and also include a small range of home furnishing accessories to buy.
A spokesperson for Ikea said: 'There has been an increased demand for Click and Collect services, a desire to shop a smaller selection of home furnishing accessories, as well as the ability to return goods to physical IKEA units, something which, owing to the space available, the current location is unable to offer.
'To better service its customers, future Plan and Order Point openings, including in Dundee, Hull and York will offer these services.
I did a haul of the new Oxford Street Ikea whilst on my lunch break & I managed to kit out with bargains under £3
"IKEA also remains committed to trialling new formats including its upcoming small stores, one of which will open in Chester later this year.'
The Swedish retailer had 22 stores across the UK after opening its first branch in Warrington, Cheshire in 1987.
IKEA recently opened a new shop on London's Oxford Street.
It's set over three floors and 5,400 square metres compared with the average size of 30,000 square meters for most of IKEA's locations.
You'll be pleased to know that along with the Swedish meatballs, the bargain hot dogs, fish and chips, and Daim cake are all still on the menu.
A plate of eight meatballs served with mashed potatoes, peas, cream sauce and lingonberry jam costs its usual bargain price of £5.50.
It comes after IKEA opened its own hotel in the Canary Islands.
Boasting cheap rooms, a swimming pool and breakfast, it also offers some of their most popular homeware items.
Las Dunas de Santa Catalina Boutique House is a new two-star hotel owned by the interiors brand in Gran Canaria.
Rooms start from £105 a night, which includes a continental breakfast, and works out to just over £50 a night for two people.

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