We've been on holiday over xmas, and went to call into our local
Homebase earlier today (Edge Lane, Liverpool) - shock horror, its shut
down.

Went to the next nearest one we could think of in Warrington - gone.

Has something happened while we were away ? (we don`t go past there
often, so any time in the last 6 months or so might give us a clue)

Interesting! According to their website, the branches in Edge Lane and
Warrington are still there! Are you sure that you're looking in the right
places?

My local one (Warwick/Leamington) was still there when I drove past
yesterday.

Yep - the edge lane one is closed (about 2 weeks or so now) although
the aintree one is still open as we went there after finding out the
edge lane one was closing (and did not have what we needed). Not
really a shame as we only buy showers for our rental properties in
homebase - B&Q edge lane and Speke is fine for the rest (plus the usual
builders merchants etc)