High street brands including WHSmith, Poundland and Sports Direct are set to close dozens of stores collectively within the next few weeks, in another major blow for shoppers. WHSmith has been slowly closing shops over the past few months.
But this week it was announced the struggling books and stationery retailer has agreed to sell its 480 UK high street chain to investment firm Modella Capital in a deal valuing £76million. The stores will eventually rebrand as TGJones – meaning the WHSmith name will disappear after 233 years from town centres.
However, it will keep hold of its travel stores in airports and train stations and these will continue to operate under the WHSmith brand. Meanwhile, Poundland has hired advisory firm Teneo to oversee a sale of its business. Sources told The Telegraph that a number of the 825 stores owned by Poundland could be closed if the chain is sold.
Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have also announced plans to get rid of their supermarket cafés. Sainsbury’s will close 61 cafés, while Morrisons will shut 52 cafés along with 17 of its Morrisons Daily convenience stores. The supermarkets did not reveal exact closure dates for these cafés and shops. You can find out if your favourite store is closing by using our interactive map below.
13,479 retail stores closed in the UK in 2024, up 28% increase from 2023, according to The Centre for Retail Research. This is equivalent to about 37 stores closing each day. More than 17,000 stores are set to close this year as retailers face higher costs from this April, in the form of higher employer National Insurance contributions and a rise in minimum wage.
Our map also shows the more than 200 shops and banks have already closed for business in 2025, including New Look, Select Fashion, Monki and Quiz Clothing. More than 60 bank branches have also shut down in 2025, including Lloyds, Halifax, Barclays and Bank of Scotland.
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