Big-name brands across Ellesmere Port and Neston are packing their bags.

Argos on the Coliseum is the latest to close hot on the heels of NatWest Bank’s refusal to reconsider the future of their branch in Neston.

The Argos store on the 145,000sq ft Coliseum Retail Park, which is independently managed by the Crown Estate although owned by the Queen, follows Currys Digital and Mamas and Papas in moving out.

The estate has recently spent £3m on a makeover of store fronts and walkways there and has added a play area and a sensory garden.

An Argos spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that the Argos store at Coliseum Shopping Park closed on Friday, January 16.

“Argos supported employees to identify alternative employment at other Argos stores and within Home Retail Group.

“Argos remains committed to the local area and customers can continue to shop at the nearby Ellesmere Port store on Mercer Walk, which is just one mile away.

“Customers also have access to over 50,000 products online at www.argos.co.uk.”

Argos has previously said it would close or relocate at least 75 stores as their leases came to an end.

It has also reduced the circulation of the traditional Argos catalogue, which was launched in 1973, as more and more people shop online and through mobiles and tablets.

Nearby Currys Digital, which closed in the autumn, explained it has a long-term programme of closures when leases come up for renewal, concentrating on megastores such as the outlet on Chester’s Deva Retail Park.

A spokesman pointed out all 10 staff involved in the closure of the Coliseum store had been relocated. The larger stores are said to have better facilities for customers to try out hi-tech goods.

A spokesman for Mamas and Papas, which has also closed recently on the Coliseum, again pointed to the lease coming to an end.

“Nine staff were affected. We’ve provided all necessary support for those employees,” he said.

The Crown Estate bought the retail park in 2013 for £81m in 2013. It is said to be ‘one of the most popular retail schemes in the north west’.

All is not doom and gloom, however, as the Coliseum saw New Look and Outfit move on last year and the stores are bookended by the shiny new 50,000sq ft Debenhams and Next, which took over Borders, both of which trade on two floors in what were single-storey units.

Round the corner at Cheshire Oaks at least one unit is known to have closed after Christmas but McArthur Glen says the outlet village turned in record figures over the festive period.

A flagship Ralph Polo Lauren store is on the way at the village, which also had a £3m makeover last year, while a new restaurant opens soon.

In Neston, the town council is working hard to boost the town with attractions and new markets.