Big name brands are set to leave town centres across south Essex in the coming weeks and months. 

In the last 12 months dozens of brands have decided to shut up shop due to the impact of the pandemic. 

Back in May Debenhams in Basildon and Southend closed to customers for the last time. 

In Southend former stores now abandoned include Quiz, Ponden Home Interiors, Ann Summers  Dorothy Perkins and Topshop with the former Monsoon building advertised on Rightmove.

Last week it was revealed Next and H&M will be shutting and leaving Basildon's Eastgate Shopping Centre.

A spokesman for Next said the store will be closing but declined to comment on anything further.

The confirmation of the two major store closures comes after shoppers reported staff at both shops told them the outlets would be closing.

Bosses at H&M have told the Echo the store in the shopping centre will be shutting on on August 6 and said most of staff will be redistributed to other outlets.

Read more >> All the shops and businesses forced to close in south Essex because of Covid

A spokesman for H&M said: “H&M Basildon will close on August 6.

“At H&M we continuously review our store portfolio, the decision to close this particular store was part of the long-term strategy to ensure we are offering our customers the best possible shopping experience in the right locations.

“Customers can continue to shop for quality fashion at the best price at our nearby Lake - side Shopping Centre store or online at hm.com.

“Our colleagues are incred - ibly important to us, which is why we’re pleased to have been able to redeploy the majority of the team at H&M Basildon to our nearby stores.”

Other businesses which were forced to close in the last 12 months due to Covid include:

Ask Italian in Rayleigh

The High Street restaurant was one of a number of sites cut by the Azzuri group in September last year.

In a statement, the firm said: “The Covid-19 crisis has hit the restaurant sector hard and we’ve had to make some incredibly difficult decisions.

“It is with deep sadness that we confirm ASK Italian Rayleigh is now closed.

“We’d like to thank our guests for their regular custom and let them know ASK Italian Billericay is now their closest restaurant.”

Rayleigh Town Councillor Chris Stanley described the closure as a “shock”.

Oban Road Fish Shop, Southend

In November, bosses at a legendary Southend chippy announced they would be shutting up shop for good.

Bosses say they had no choice after the impact of the virus on trade.

A spokesman said: “Unfortunately due to the pandemic and subsequent impact on trade, we will be closing our doors for good. Our last day will be November 21.

"We would like to thank all our customers, friends and supporters we have made over the last five years."

Pizza Express in Billericay

Pizza Express announced in September that 73 restaurants would close nationwide.

One of these restaurants was the Billericay High Street site.

Bosses said the impact of the global pandemic meant they had to make some incredibly tough decisions to safeguard Pizza Express for the long term.

Zoe Bowley, Pizza Express's managing director for the UK and Ireland, said: "Unfortunately, the impact of the global pandemic has meant that we have had to make some incredibly tough decisions to safeguard Pizza Express for the long term."

Pasta Pia

In October, bosses at an Italian pasta restaurant revealed they had been forced to shut their doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pasta Pia, in Clifftown Road, Southend, was unable to stay afloat because of the economic pressure caused by Covid.

In a message to customers, bosses said: "We would like to thank you all for your support over the years, but due to the current economic situation, we sadly decided to close our Southend Branch permanently.

"Our Westcliff branch remains open for business , we look forward to see you there.”

Monsoon

The fashion retailer Monsoon announced in June that it would be closing 32 stores across the UK.

Bosses said the pandemic had made closures “unavoidable”.

Shops in Southend-on-Sea and Basildon were on the closure list.

Santander banks

Santander is closing three of its south Essex branches this summer as customers switch to banking online.

Branches in Leigh, Wickford and Grays are set to close as the bank announced 111 of its branches across the country would shut by the end of August this year.

The Spanish-owned lender said that most of the branches being axed were under three miles from another branch, with the furthest being five miles away.

The Leigh branch, based at 85 The Broadway, will close on August 5.

The Wickford branch, on 18A High Street, closed on July 8.

The Grays branch, 30 High Street, closed on July 29.