Axminster Power Tools - Administration

[C_Claycomb]

*Edit: 1st November.
Spoiler. Axminster is not closing, it is restructuring. See their Facebook page and post #23
*

Just heard this evening that Axminster Tools, the company that many here have spent far too much money with, has applied for an Administrator. Their accounts don’t sound good and a lot of stuff on the website is showing out of stock, while some brands have simply vanished altogether.

Axminster Tool Centre Ltd - Caseboard

Case Number: CR-2025-BRS-000114, Case Name: Axminster Tool Centre Ltd, List: Companies, Case Filed: 8 Oct 2025

caseboard.io

Axminster Tools: 2025-10-25 Have applied to the courts to be placed into Administration.

MOD EDIT: Skip forward to post #52 for key information in the discussion originally started to discuss the subject of Axminster Tools closing. https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/threads/axminster-tools-2025-10-25-have-applied-to-the-courts-to-be-placed-into-administration.154078/post-1836678...

www.ukworkshop.co.uk

 

[hughtrimble]

That is a shame, I liked their stuff and their shop was a proper toy shop

 

[Broch]

Nooooooo!!!

 

[Broch]

Yep, £2m loss in both 24 and 23 and falling sales. Real shame.

 

[Stew]

That's not good!

Weirdly, I haven't bought anything from them in years but this morning I was browsing for some bits and was planning to pop round to the local store tomorrow.

 

[mrmike]

That's not good!

Weirdly, I haven't bought anything from them in years but this morning I was browsing for some bits and was planning to pop round to the local store tomorrow.

I wish I still had a local store, unfortunately they closed it last year.
It will be a massive shame if they do go under, I hope that they will at least be able to maintain an online presence

 

[Nice65]

They sold good stuff. I had a set of files from there way back and they still cut well today. Well, the ones that haven't got lost or lent.

 

[Stew]

I wish I still had a local store, unfortunately they closed it last year.
It will be a massive shame if they do go under, I hope that they will at least be able to maintain an online presence

Five minute drive for me though only been in a couple of times over the last five or so years. Just haven't needed much from them!

 

[William_Montgomery]

Really sorry to hear this. Seen so many businesses go under this year.

 

[Springchicken]

That's a real blow. It was my go-to place for a lot of woodworking and DIY bits and bobs.

 

[Mesquite]

That's a real blow. It was my go-to place for a lot of woodworking and DIY bits and bobs.

Likewise

 

[bobnewboy]

Nooooooo!!!

<AOL> me tooo!!!! </>

 

[Buckshot]

That's a shame.
I was planning on kitting out the new workshop with some of their stuff.

 

[demographic]

I've used them and been happy with the quality of the tools and service.
The websits seemed designed to be used by people who already knew what they wanted mind.
I'd land on a page (ofen as a result of a search engine) then want to have a look at the other similar options and that was always a bit of a faff.

 

[Brizzlebush]

That's really sad.
It's my go-to store for, well, pretty much everything I can't eat.

 

[Woody girl]

Got my first spoon carving knife from them.
So many old established stores going bust.
I blame temu and amazon. Therein be a lesson. Shop in bricks and mortar or loose it.

 

[Dave Budd]

Oh no! I've spent an awful lot of money with them over the years. For so long in fact that when I first went to their shop it was the only one and was on the high street in Axminster town centre. They had their wood stores some way down the road and around the corner, so if I wanted wood I had to walk through town with armfuls in order to pay for it! lol

I wonder if part of their falling over has been because they grew too fast and over reached with the various big branches and events? Such a shame to lose them though

 

[slowworm]

I blame temu and amazon. Therein be a lesson. Shop in bricks and mortar or loose it.

I've bought a fair bit of stuff from Axminster over the years, all mail order and much of it made abroad.

Does anyone know if this rumour is true, I can't find anything on their web site?

If they are closing I expect it will be a blow to the UK people who make tools for them.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Does anyone know if this rumour is true, I can't find anything on their web site?

I take slight exception to the implication that I post rumour.
Stating that they “are closing down” would be rumour. I am stating that it’s not looking good, that there is an application for an administrator.

Administration doesn’t necessarily mean closing down for good. It can mean restructuring.

As for not seeing any news on the website. I would not expect to see a statement until things are much further along. There is no benefit to them in making a statement yet.

That said, their site states there have been delays in shipping and that both remaining stores are closed. That is not business as usual. Many goods are out of stock, and other lines are missing entirely. That is not indicative of a healthy business and is not usual from my experience shopping with them.

Update: Store Closed - Due to operational issues Axminster Tools High Wycombe store is currently closed. Thank you for your patience.

Update: Store Closed - Due to operational issues Axminster Tools Sittingbourne store is currently closed. Thank you for your patience.

Filing report which was for 2024, so situation may have evolved.

 

[C_Claycomb]

I really hope they can turn themselves around!! Lots of stuff they sold I would not know where to find elsewhere.