After 38 years of serving the Burnley community, Wilkinson Cameras has made the difficult decision to close our Burnley store on St. James Street, effective from March 1st, 2025.

Wilkinson Cameras’ Managing Director, David Parkinson, explains:

“Those in the trade will know how much it has changed over the years. Wilkinson Cameras was formed in 1986 and is a leading name in photographic, video and optical equipment. We are still here today because of our willingness and ability to move with the times.

As leases end, we’ve exited smaller towns such as Blackburn and Bury and we’ve opened in Liverpool, Chester and other larger town centres. As our market evolves, so must we and that will mean looking towards larger city locations and moving away from smaller market towns.

We have recently invested in brand new shops in our existing locations of Kendal, Carlisle and Liverpool and we will look to replicate these cutting-edge retail stores in other cities in the future, as well as bringing our existing key locations up to this standard.”

Chairman Frank Wilkinson further elaborates on the reasoning behind this decision:

“Our Burnley branch hasn’t been profitable for some time but neither did it lose money, so we were happy to continue trading for as long as possible to protect jobs and serve our existing customers. Regrettably, the latest large and continuing increases in the minimum wage, the huge reduction in business rates relief, and the much higher contributions for employers’ National Insurance have ensured that our Burnley branch will lose money. With all our other stores also hit by these extra costs, the company must remain profitable across all branches to safeguard the overall business and continue to be a nationally recognised photographic retailer for many years to come.”

What This Means for Our Customers

We want to assure all our loyal Burnley customers that:
- All equipment warranties and in-store gift vouchers remain valid
- Our Preston store is ready to welcome you with the same expert service
- Our online store is always open, providing expert advice and support

We understand that this news may be disappointing, and we are incredibly grateful for your support over the past 38 years.

From everyone at Wilkinson Cameras, thank you for being a part of our Burnley store’s journey. We look forward to continuing to serve you, whether in-store at one of our other locations or online.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Services Team.