THE future of independent gift retailer Maybugs remains unclear after its stores remained closed for a second consecutive day in what many will see as another blow to the high street.
The business operates four branches in Eastbourne, Hailsham, Bexhill-on-Sea and Tunbridge Wells, employing 17 members of staff.
All stores remained closed today (5th March), while the company’s website was also offline.
No public statement has been issued explaining the closures, and the company’s owner declined to comment.
It is currently unclear whether the business has formally ceased trading. At the time of publication, records held by Companies House list the company as active and no insolvency notices have appeared on the public register.
Earlier this year, owner Greg Rose described 2025 as ‘a nightmare’ for the business as a series of setbacks affected trading across its sites.
He told Eastbourne News: “Our Bexhill store was shrouded in scaffolding and hidden from view for the whole summer, our Tunbridge Wells store has been flooded six times. For the first time in eight years, I’m not sure how we can survive if sales continue to be this bad.”
In the run-up to Christmas, Maybugs was among several businesses to raise concerns about pedestrianisation works in Eastbourne, saying disruption had reduced footfall during the crucial festive shopping period.
Maybugs first opened in Hailsham in 2018 before expanding into Eastbourne in 2021 and Bexhill-on-Sea in 2022. A fourth store opened in Royal Tunbridge Wells in November 2024.
The business was awarded the High Street Hero title at the Small Awards in 2023 for its Artisan Market initiative at its Eastbourne store.
The company has confirmed that Maybugs Ltd has ceased trading as from March 2026.
