Independent stallholders have been given less than three weeks to leave Cavendish House, after its owner announced the building will close at the end of January 2026.
Owner Canada Life confirmed the closure this week, after traders occupying the space revealed notice had been served on social media.
Canada Life says it is closing the building ahead of planned development at the site, beginning with the removal of the link bridge with Regent Arcade, which it also owns.
The closure will mark the end for Cavendish House in its current form, after more than 200 years of trade.
Since previous occupant House of Fraser left the site after 54 years in 2024, the building has been occupied by independent pop-up traders, under private investors who took on its short term running on a leasehold basis from Canada Life.
Its future was thrown in doubt back in October 2025 due to reports of unpaid bills, with Cheltenham Borough Council leader Rowena Hay penning an open letter to Canada Life calling for clarity, along with an update on its long term plans for the site.
Canada Life responded by taking back full responsibility for the building, appointing a management team from Sanderson Weatherall LLP, which also manages its neighbouring Regent Arcade, to run it day-to-day.
It said the move would provide certainty for the pop-up traders there, as well as enabling the long term development of the site.
A spokesperson for Canada Life Asset Management said this week: 'Cavendish House will be closing on 31 January to facilitate the next stage of the building’s redevelopment, beginning with the removal of the bridge link to Regent Arcade.
'We are engaged with Cheltenham Borough Council in respect of an updated pre-application planning process and remain committed to working closely with local stakeholders as we move forward with the next phase of Cavendish House’s regeneration.'
One trader, craft and haberdashery shop The Kiwi Fruit is Cute – which also runs regular workshops on site – said they were given less than three weeks notice of the closure and that with no alternative premises secured, they are 'at serious risk' of closing down permanently.
In a Facebook post, they said: 'We've poured our hearts into this little shop and into everyone who's walked through the door.
'This hasn't just been a business. It's been a community. A safe place to create, learn, connect and feel welcome.
'We've seen friendships form, confidence grow, skills learned and joy shared within these walls and that's what makes this so hard.'
