It is a shame that Hattons has decided to close all their operations. Change is happening in the model railway world:

more expensive pieces of kit

more individual models and more choice

the removal of pre-release models at discounts from suppliers such as Hornby

the universal use of the internet in buying models – there is no absolute need for a front end physical store and all internet stores appear to be equal – they really compete only on price (a bit on reputation too)

I don’t think that model railways are a dying hobby – but I suspect that there will be yet more change in suppliers to come