The closure of coal mines in the UK was primarily driven by a combination of economic and political factors. This was largely due to the Conservative government's claims that there was a decline in demand for coal and the emergence of cheaper energy sources from abroad. Despite appeals from mineworkers and their families to save the pits during the 1984-1985 strike, many collieries in the Mansfield and Ashfield areas were closed in the following decade. Once a thriving coal mining region with thousands of miners, Mansfield has a rich and complex mining history. This legacy continues to be explored and celebrated through museums, exhibitions, and the remaining miners' welfare clubs.placeholder image
The closure of coal mines in the UK was primarily driven by a combination of economic and political factors. This was largely due to the Conservative government's claims that there was a decline in demand for coal and the emergence of cheaper energy sources from abroad. Despite appeals from mineworkers and their families to save the pits during the 1984-1985 strike, many collieries in the Mansfield and Ashfield areas were closed in the following decade. Once a thriving coal mining region with thousands of miners, Mansfield has a rich and complex mining history. This legacy continues to be explored and celebrated through museums, exhibitions, and the remaining miners' welfare clubs.

Retro: Mansfield and Ashfield businesses and industries we've loved and lost through the years

By Phoebe Cox
Published 29th Jul 2025, 12:58 BST

Businesses have faced challenges from online shopping, increased competition from overseas, and various social and political factors. These challenges have led to unexpected closures, many of which we’ve covered here at your Chad.

Over the past 30 years, we have lost many long-standing businesses due to closures, factory shutdowns, and companies going bankrupt.

So, for a retro article this week, we have taken a look back at some of the Mansfield and Ashfield businesses we have loved and lost through the years.

Did you one work at one of the following places?

The Woolworths store in Mansfield closed down in January 2009 as part of the company-wide closure of all UK Woolworths stores. The Mansfield store, which was the 100th store opened by the British chain, was located at 16-18 Westgate. The Sutton Woolworths store closed in January 2009 too.

5. Woolworths

The Woolworths store in Mansfield closed down in January 2009 as part of the company-wide closure of all UK Woolworths stores. The Mansfield store, which was the 100th store opened by the British chain, was located at 16-18 Westgate. The Sutton Woolworths store closed in January 2009 too. Photo: JPIMedia

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Debenhams in Mansfield's Four Seasons Shopping Centre closed in 2021.

6. Debenhams

Debenhams in Mansfield's Four Seasons Shopping Centre closed in 2021. Photo: Chad

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Mansfield Brewery's last working day, 2001. Mansfield Brewery, once a major local employer and brewer, was taken over by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries in 1999. Following the takeover, brewing operations were moved to Wolverhampton in 2002, and the Mansfield site was closed in 2001.

7. Mansfield Brewery

Mansfield Brewery's last working day, 2001. Mansfield Brewery, once a major local employer and brewer, was taken over by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries in 1999. Following the takeover, brewing operations were moved to Wolverhampton in 2002, and the Mansfield site was closed in 2001. Photo: Chad

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The Queen Street frontage of the building, viewed from the junction with Stockwell Gate. Beales in Mansfield closed in March 2020. The closure was part of a larger collapse of the Beales department store chain. The former Beales building in Mansfield is now being acquired by the local council for redevelopment into a community hub called Mansfield Connect.

8. Mansfield's Beales

The Queen Street frontage of the building, viewed from the junction with Stockwell Gate. Beales in Mansfield closed in March 2020. The closure was part of a larger collapse of the Beales department store chain. The former Beales building in Mansfield is now being acquired by the local council for redevelopment into a community hub called Mansfield Connect. Photo: Brian Eyre

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