MUSICROOM is closing seven of its eight UK stores due to 'rising costs and challenging market conditions'.

The retail chain announced on Monday, February 20, that the Salisbury store at 5 Catherine Street would be included in the culling of its high street stores.

This comes after the building has been trading as a music shop for almost 60 years.

Read more: ​Music Room on Catherine Street to close after almost 60 years

Sheet music publisher Hal Leonard, which owns Musicroom, is keeping its London flagship store open but shifting focus to e-commerce.

In-store sales will be launched in all Musicroom locations, starting this week, ahead of the final day of trading on March 17.

Salisbury Journal: Guitars on sale in Salisbury's Musicroom.Guitars on sale in Salisbury's Musicroom. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

When the Journal asked to speak to in-store staff in Salisbury about the closure, Hal Leonard said it will not be supporting requests for interviews.

A spokesperson said: "Staff are receiving their redundancy notice today as well as commencing clearance sales so our focus is on supporting the team at this time."

Managing director Tom Venvell, at Hal Leonard Europe, said: "Musicroom retail stores have contributed significantly to our consumer business and wider UK music-making communities over many years, and our decision to restructure in this way has been very difficult.

"However, with sales and profitability impacted by challenging market conditions, and costs continuing to rise, we need to make these changes."