Eastbourne and Hailsham gift shops close as company goes into 'voluntary liquidation'

The independent gift retailer Maybugs Limited officially ceased trading on 2 March 2026, leading to the closure of its stores in Eastbourne and Hailsham.

The company is currently being placed into creditors' voluntary liquidation. 

Key Closure Details

• Company Name: Maybugs Limited.
• Closed Locations:

  • Eastbourne - Terminus Road

  • Hailsham - Vicarage Field

  • Bexhill-on-Sea - Devonshire Road
     
  • Tunbridge Wells: Royal Tunbridge Wells 

• Official Cease Date: 2 March 2026.
• Liquidators: Steven Edwards and Mark Holborow of the insolvency firm Crowe UK have been appointed to assist the board of directors. 

Reasons for Liquidation:-

Owners Greg Rose and John Dale, who founded the business in 2018, cited several factors that impacted the company’s viability: 

• Footfall Issues: Disruption from town centre pedestrianisation works in Eastbourne reduced footfall during the critical 2025 Christmas trading period.
• Rising Costs: Significant increases in business rates, staff costs (National Living Wage), and energy prices.
• Location Setbacks: The Tunbridge Wells store suffered multiple floods, and the Bexhill branch was obscured by scaffolding during the summer of 2025. 

Continuing Operations:-

While the retail stores and the official Maybugs website have closed, the owners confirmed that Maybugs Designs, their greeting card publishing company, remains unaffected and continues to trade as normal.