Quiz shuts down 23 UK and Ireland stores, including Maidstone’s Fremlin walk branch, after insolvency.

The fashion retailer Quiz has shut down 23 of its stores across the UK and Ireland after plunging into insolvency, with its Maidstone branch among the casualties.

The struggling brand was bought out in a pre-pack insolvency deal by new owner Orion, which managed to save 42 shops. However, administrators swiftly axed nearly two dozen outlets deemed “loss-making or unsustainable.”

Among those permanently closed is Quiz’s store in Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, as the high street continues to suffer from plummeting footfall and weaker consumer spending.

The chain had been struggling for months, but a disappointing Christmas trading period proved to be the final blow. Quiz’s chief executive, Sheraz Ramzan, admitted the company had no choice but to call in administrators.

“The board took the difficult decision to appoint administrators in light of the continuing challenging trading conditions impacting the group’s performance,” he said.

This latest high street collapse follows a growing trend of well-known brands struggling to survive in the post-pandemic retail landscape, with rising costs and shifting shopping habits pushing more companies to the brink.

Shoppers in Maidstone have been left disappointed by the sudden closure, while retail experts warn that more chains could follow suit if economic pressures persist.

As Quiz attempts to restructure under new ownership, its remaining 42 stores will continue to trade—at least for now. But with consumer confidence still shaky, the future of Britain’s high street retailers remains uncertain.