Former greeting card store to go under the hammer with guide price of £45,000

The building occupies a prime slot on King Street, which is part of the town's main shopping area. 

The lot has a guide price of £45,000 plus fees, and will be going to auction on Thursday, April 4 at The Halston Hotel in Carlisle. 

Auctioneers Auction House Cumbria described the building as 'a substantial, retail, shop property with further accommodation on two upper floors occupying a prime position in the town centre'.

Inside the building (Image: Auction House Cumbria)

They added: "The property was last occupied by Clinton Cards and is offered with vacant possession of the whole.

"Interested parties are invited to make their inquiries to the relevant authorities as to the availability of the services."

Mayor Chris Hayes said: "It's in an ideal location, let's hope that someone comes along and turns it into a shop.

Inside the premises (Image: Auction House Cumbria)

"It's very important that we get shops back open in Whitehaven, I know that it's a bad time for opening up businesses but there are grants out there for refurbishments from Cumberland Council to help entrepreneurs open up new businesses.

"So, let's hope that we get a new shop in that building because it would be ideal. 

"I watch the news regularly like we all do, and high streets up and down the country are struggling. We're no different, no better, and no worse than anywhere else. 

"It's sad because it's so easy to buy online now... but all I'll say is, 'use it or lose it'."

The back of the building (Image: Auction House Cumbria)

The building has stood empty since Clinton Cards closed shop on March 19, 2023. 

Councillor Edwin Dinsdale said: “What I'd like to see as the ward councillor is somebody coming in, preferably a local business, picking the building up and making a go of whatever it might be that they decide to run out of that building."

Upstairs in the property (Image: Auction House Cumbria)

It has three stories and includes a shop, office, kitchen, and store on the ground floor, with further accommodation on the upper two floors.

For enquiries, call Auction House Cumbria on 01228 510 552.