Many major retailers are closing some of their stores in the coming months, following a tough few years for some high-street chains. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. This follows a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, an increase of 28% on the previous year.
Retail analysts and trade bodies blame high commercial rents, expensive business rates, and a decline in high street shopping visits for the closures. Dozens of stores owned by New Look, WHSmith, and Co-op have already closed this year, and there are more to come. Express.co.uk has compiled a list of pending store closures.
Sports Direct
The chain’s store in Liverpool One Shopping Centre is closing on September 29, the Liverpool Echo reports, whilst a site in Rhy’s White Rose Shopping Centre will permanently close in October, the Daily Post reports.
An exact closure date for the Rhyl branch is yet to be confirmed. Both stores have reportedly launched closing down sales, with up to 20% off stock.
The closures come after a Sports Direct branch in Cambridge shut in April, as well as its Central Six Park store in Coventry closed at the end of January.
Poundland
Poundland has confirmed that 49 sites will shut throughout August and September. The budget retailer’s closures come after 10 stores closed on August 10. A further 15 will shut for good on August 17, before 12 more close on August 24, and 11 shut on August 31.
A further store will then close on September 14. Closing down sales are now in full swing in the remaining stores, with some items, including pet products, toys and toiletries, available for just 50p.
Poundland stores closing on Sunday, August 17
- Bedford
- Biston Moss
- Broxburn
- Craigavon
- Dartmouth
- East Dulwich
- Falmouth
- Hull St Andrews
- Newtonabbey
- Perth
- Poole
- Sunderland
- Stafford
- Thornaby
- Worcester
Poundland stores closing on Sunday, August 24
- Brigg
- Canterbury
- Coventry
- Newcastle
- Kings Heath
- Peterborough
- Peterlee
- Rainham
- Salford
- Sheldon
- Wells
- Whitechapel
Poundland stores closing on Sunday, August 31
- Blackburn
- Cookstown
- Erdington
- Kimberley Shopping Centre, Nottingham
- Horsham
- Hull Holderness
- Kettering
- Omagh
- Shepherds Bush
- Southport
- Taunton
The store in the Rivergate Shopping Centre in Irvine will close on Sunday, September 14.
Hobbycraft
Arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft has announced a number of store closures set to take place in September. The news comes as the company continues a “strategic review of the business” and restructuring process.
The retailer closed stores across the UK earlier this year, with more expected to be announced. Now, Hobbycraft has confirmed a further nine will close in September, although exact closure dates are yet to be confirmed.
Hobbycraft stores closing in September
- Stafford
- Wigan
- Maidenhead
- King’s Lynn
- Chichester
- Crayford
Hobbycraft’s CEO Alex Wilson said: “Very sadly, the strength of our offering has not made us immune from the challenges faced by the retails sector in recent years.
“Closing stores is always a last resort, and this has been an extremely difficult decision. Making these changes is sadly a necessary action to enable us to keep our doors open to crafters up and down the country.”
Original Factory Shop
The Original Factory Shop was founded in Burnley, England, in 1969 and, at its peak, had around 180 stores.
However, it has closed some of its stores over the years, and some more will now close as part of a Company Voluntary Agreement.
The Original Factory Shop store closures
- Market Drayton – September 20
- Middlewich, Cheshire – date TBC
- Blairgowrie, Scotland – date TBC
- Heswall – date TBC
- Kinross – date TBC
- Nairn – date TBC
Game
The gaming retailer has approximately 240 UK stores but will close five branches in September 2025. The wave of closures comes after earlier store closures in Bridgwater, Manchester and Nottingham.
Game stores closing this autumn:
- Bristol Galleries Shopping Centre
- Gateshead Metrocentre
- Basingstoke
- Southend
- Chatham
