The Ipswich branch of H&M has confirmed that it will be closing its doors before Christmas. 

The retail giant emailed customers on November 19, informing them that its Ipswich branch will be closing on November 27. 

The email said: “Our store in Ipswich is closing on November 27 2022.” 

It said H&M would “miss being part of the Ipswich community” but advised customers that its Colchester store would remain open. 

There has been speculation that the Tavern Street store would be closing since October, with staff reportedly told it would be closing the following month. 

However, when contacted for comment at the time, H&M bosses said they could neither confirm nor deny that this was the case. 

Chairman of Ipswich Central Terry Baxter told this newspaper the rumours were “disappointing.” 

He said: "It is of course disappointing that H&M may be closing their Ipswich store.  

"We are unaware of any specific reason for this closure, however H&M as a business has announced changes to their future moving forward and a number of other closures have resulted in relocation, but we are not aware of this for Ipswich. 

"We are not alone in having national brands leave the high streets and this is yet another reminder that we must all change our perception of town centres as a place just for shopping and look at the complete offer.” 

In April, the Retail Gazette reported that H&M would shutter 240 stores across the world following a slowdown in sales

The Ipswich store has been in business for 15 years, having first opened its doors in 2007. 

Premises opened on the corner of Tavern Street in May, where the former Superdrug used to be. 

At the time, the store’s opening was described as a boom for the town, following the closure of the Littlewoods and Allders stores.  

Now, H&M is one of several large retailers to depart from the Ipswich high street. 

This news comes after a burger restaurant in the Buttermarket shopping centre in Ipswich has closed just over two years after it opened. 

In May last year, the department store Debenhams closed down. The store is now being redeveloped by Unex.

H&M has been contacted for comment.