Six Batemans outlets close

Vision Express has closed six of the 75 Batemans practices it acquired in May this year after the 100-year-old family-run optical chain filed for bankruptcy, Optician has learnt.

The closed outlets in Chichester, Farnham, Havant, Andover, Barnstaple and Taunton are all located near existing Vision Express joint-venture outlets. Vision Express had confirmed (News, August 1) that the Batemans name, bar a few exceptions, would disappear from the high street within the next 24 months as the multiple embarked on a ‘substantial’ upgrade of the Batemans practices. At the time the company said the practices would take on the full Vision Express brand.