Beloved bathroom brand suddenly collapses after three decades as owner blasts ‘catastrophic’ red parking lines
A BATHROOM brand has folded after 34 years in business due to ‘catastrophic’ parking regulations.
Michael Cannadine, who opened Cannadines in 1991, blamed the double red lines outside his shop for the closure.
The Brighton store will pull down the shutters for the final time on May 31.
Michael told his local paper earlier this year that the new ‘Red Route’ on three main roads in the beachside city were making running his business “almost impossible”.
In 2024, London Road, Preston Road and Lewes Road were slapped with double red lines, which restrict vehicles from stopping at any time.
“It has been catastrophic. It has created money for the council or whichever organisation is running it, but chaos for the people who live and work here,” Michael told The Argus in February.
“The traffic is so much worse than it was. They’ve done a good job at creating more pollution – at least before the traffic was moving,” he added.
It has been reported that the business’s lease was coming to an end, coinciding with Michael’s retirement.
Former councillor Andy Winter spoke about the closure on Facebook, where he said: “I’m so sorry to see that Cannadines on Preston Road is to close.
“It’s been there longer than I can remember and another part of ‘old Brighton’ that will soon be lost.”
His post gathered comments from disappointed locals, with one writing: “Oh no! Cannadines was great – brilliant range and service that put all the more modern bathroom chain stores to shame.”
“I am getting fed up with all those closures,” another raged.
“Very sad! They were very helpful when we bought our bathroom furniture from there!” echoed a third.
Councillor Trevor Muton, Cabinet member for Transport, Parking and Public Realm, said previously: “Red routes are an important part of our efforts to improve safety, traffic flow, and air quality around the city.
“Our intention is not to negatively impact local businesses and, in each area where a red route has been trialled, we have consulted at length with traders, residents living nearby, road users, and pedestrians.”
The Sun has approached Brighton & Hove City Council for comment.