A branch of Jhoots Pharmacy in Kent has re-opened days after a bailiff notice appeared in the window informing patients that the store would be closed until further notice, Kent Online has reported.

A story in the local news outlet on Monday October 21 revealed that the Jhoots branch in Rainham Shopping Centre, which replaced a previous Boots store, had its doors open to patients at the start of this week, having put the closure notice in its window at the end of the week prior. 

The notice from Parkinson Bailiff Services had informed patients that the premises was being closed under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977.

This was the second instance in which a Jhoots branch in the same shopping precinct had been issued with a repossession notice. 

On April 19, Commercial Rent Bailiffs Limited placed a notice in a Jhoots store located elsewhere in Rainham Shopping Centre, stating “Under the terms and conditions of your rental agreement or lease, we as acting agents and with the authority of your landlord have today entered these demised premises and have served notice and have taken possession.

“No unauthorised persons are permitted entry into these premises and any attempt to do so will result in criminal proceedings being instigated against you.”

Kent Online reports that a week after the April repossession notice, the pharmacy relocated to the former Boots premises in the same shopping centre and has operated from there ever since. 

P3pharmacy has approached both Jhoots Healthcare Limited and Parkinson Bailiff Services to establish the background to the repossession notice and whether the pharmacy will continue to serve patients for the foreseeable future, but has not received a response from either party. 

The Walsall-headquartered company’s accounts for the year to December 31, 2023 were published on September 12 this year. The financial report reveals that despite making a pre-tax loss of £448,496 against £8.1m turnover the directors were “confident of the company’s future prospects”. 

The Companies House filing also reveals that after buying 36 ex-LloydsPharmacy branches in late 2023 Jhoots had shut two stores in Bristol and Wiltshire. 

“The company continues to achieve growth by seeking and acquiring more pharmacies and rationalise loss making branches to expand business and improve gross margins, maximise profitability by realising efficiencies within the business,” said the directors.