Woolworths could return to UK high streets

The iconic UK store chain Woolworths, which closed down 9 years ago, could be returning to UK high streets.

The iconic shop, famous for its pick n' mix sweets and cheap deals, went into liquidation in 2008. The shutdown led to 27,000 job losses across the retail chain's 800 stores.

Tony Page, a former Woolworths director, tried to purchase the Woollies name and even sold his family home to boost funds, but his bid of £10 million was beaten by Shop Direct.

The firm, which owned Littlewoods, continued to use the Woollies name in the form of an online website, but it closed six years later.

Page now hoped to launch a bid to purchase and revive the chain in a 'similar format' to how it was functioning in its heyday.

The former Asda director told Daily Star Online, "I have contacted Shop Direct and said "you're not using the brand anymore, would you consider giving it to someone who would?"

"They have taken the website down, so I'm curious now as to what might happen next because I still think the brand has got some propriety in spite of what happened in the past.

"I feel as though if the brand name was available it would still be a possibility to bring it back [to our high streets]."

Before it closed, Woolworths was synonymous with the UK high street. It opened in 1909 when Frank Woolworth set up the first store in Liverpool.

Though the store remained popular with shoppers for many years, critics said it failed to move with the times.

Paternoster, the forerunner of UK multinational retailer Kingfisher plc bought the store in 1982. In 2001, it demerged from Kingfisher and listed on the London Stock Exchange.