HMV has confirmed that the Meadowhall branch is set to close – but say a date is ‘yet to be confirmed’.

Signs saying ‘store closing, everything must go’ appeared in the window of Meadowhall’s HMV store last week, and now the retailer has confirmed that the store will be shut.

A spokesman for HMV said: “The plan is to close the Sheffield Meadowhall store. A date has yet to be confirmed, however, it's still open today.”

Nationally, least eight HMV shops are expected to be axed from the high street after the retailer began shutting down stores last month.

placeholder image — HMV closing | JPIMedia

In a statement, HMV said the stores were no longer viable due to “extortionate” business rates in some locations.

The announcement came as department store chain Debenhams said it was set to close 19 of its stores this month, with a further 28 reportedly to close next year.

HMV said it will be relocating in Lincoln and Plymouth, with new stores opening next month.

In a statement, the company said: “There are currently 10 stores where negotiations with landlords are ongoing and we are hopeful of securing new deals.”

Signs in the HMV meadowhall store window | User (UGC)

“The closures are no reflection on our superb staff and where we are not able to come to a new agreement or relocate staff within the business elsewhere, unfortunately this does mean some of our staff will lose their jobs.”

HMV was purchased in a rescue deal by music mogul Doug Putman in February 2019 after it crashed into administration for the second time in five years in December 2018.