The future of the high street looks increasingly uncertain as a fresh wave of store closures is set to take place next month.
The demise of the high street has been ongoing for a while, compounded by the coronavirus pandemic.
Britain’s high streets face an exodus of shops. Long queues are rare now, while to let signs and boarded windows are a more common sight as shoppers are choosing to buy online instead.
The recent spate of closures includes WHSmith high street stores, Wilko and River Island. Banks like NatWest, Santander, Halifax and Lloyds have axed hundreds of branches this year.
Some studies have estimated that Britain lost up to 37 shops a day in 2024.
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And more shops will be shutting soon after Morrisons, Poundland, Paddy Power and Ann’s Cottage surf shops announced closures.
Morrisons
Morrisons is due to close more than 100 stores, cafes, florists and pharmacies this year as part of the supermarket’s ‘programme of renewal’.
After being part of British life for more than 125 years, the loss of the stores will be a big blow to customers.
Dozens of cafes, 17 daily convenience stores, 13 florists, four pharmacies, 18 market kitchens, 35 meat counters and 35 fish counters are also expected to close in a bid to ‘optimise operations’ and to boost growth, Morrisons said.
Morrisons’ chief executive Rami Baitiéh said the closures were a ‘necessary part of our plans to renew and reinvigorate Morrisons and enable us to focus our investment into the areas that customers really value and that can play a full part in our growth.’
Poundland
Poundland was sold earlier this year with a company-wide restructure causing many sites to shut before the end of 2025.
Closing down sales have already begun, with customers rushing to grab last-minute bargains.
A total of 13 more Poundlands will shut in October and November.
Here is a full list of the stores due to close:
- Leicester (October 17)
- Tenby (October 18)
- Blackpool, Cherry Tree Retail Park (October 25)
- Deal (October 27)
- Thurrock (October 27)
- Walsall (October 29)
- Matlock (November 2)
- Carlisle (November 9)
- Burnley (November 9)
- Witham (November 12)
- Sidcup (November 14)
- Peckham (November 20)
- Launceston (November 29)
Paddy Power
Paddy Power is set to close 57 of its retail outlets across the UK after a review of its high street estate.
The announcement of the closure of the gambling shops has caused concern over the future of other high street betting shops.
The Chancellor’s November budget is rumoured to raise tax levels for UK operators.
Paddy Power said 247 staff are at risk of redundancy, with 128 of those in the UK and 119 in the Republic of Ireland.
Ann’s Cottage surf shop
Ann’s Cottage, known for its surf and lifestyle clothing and accessories, is closing its flagship store.
The store in Falmouth, Cornwall, is set to close on Sunday, November 9, just months after the brand shut its Wadebridge store.
There are now seven Ann’s Cottage locations left across Cornwall.
A notice on the window of the store said: ‘Thanks staff and customers for their support over the years.
‘After many wonderful years, we’re sadly closing our Falmouth store.
‘We want to express our deepest gratitude to all our amazing customers for their loyalty and support over the years.
‘It’s been a privilege to be part of this community, and we’re especially thankful to our fabulous Falmouth team for all their dedication and hard work.’
But it’s not all doom and gloom for the high street as Gap is set to reopen.
Gap makes a comeback
Gap is set to return to the UK high street after closing all of its 81 stores in 2021.
The fashion chain was incredibly popular during the 1980s and 1990s but decided to close its high street stores in a bid to become a digital-first brand.
Drapers has reported that the fashion brand will be opening three stores in Covent Garden on November 3, Westfield London in December 4 and Wembley Park on December 12.
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