Every Gap store in Kent is set to close as the retailer has announced it will be closing all shops in the UK and Ireland by the end of this year.

In a move which puts thousands of jobs at risk, the company has said it intends to take business online “in a phased manner” from the end of August through to the end of September 2021.

It currently has stores in Sevenoaks, Ashford Designer Outlet and Bluewater shopping centre, while the Tunbridge Wells store in Royal Victoria Place closed just before Christmas.

It said it would provide “support and transition assistance” to colleagues following the closures, though didn't specify how many employees had been affected.

The US firm has been active in the UK since 1987 and has had stores in the Republic of Ireland since 2006.

In a statement released yesterday, Gap said: “In the United Kingdom and Europe, we are going to maintain our Gap online business.

"The e-commerce business continues to grow and we want to meet our customers where they are shopping.

"We’re becoming a digital first business and we’re looking for a partner to help drive our online business.

"Due to market dynamics in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, we shared with our team today that we are proposing to close all company-operated Gap Specialty and Gap Outlet stores in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland in a phased manner from the end of August through the end of September 2021.

"We are thoughtfully moving through the consultation process with our European team, and we will provide support and transition assistance for our colleagues as we look to wind down stores."

Gap said it was considering shifting to a franchise-only model in Europe in October.

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