Store closures happening in January including WHSmith and New Look – full list (Image: Getty)
High streets across the UK constantly change, with store closures increasing yearly.
The latest figures from the Centre for Retail Research show that 13,479 stores closed their doors last year, most of which were small independent retailers.
Stores ceased trading at an average rate of 37 per day, and insights show a grim picture for independents. A staggering 11,300 shut shop – a 45.5 percent surge from the previous year.
Larger chains weren’t spared either, shuttering an enormous 2,138 stores, and insolvency proceedings accounted for over half of the closures.
Additionally, cost-cutting measures led to the closure of 5,942 shops, including well-known names such as Boots and Shoe Zone.
There’s no sign of high streets being revamped soon either, with a dozen major stores expected to shut this month. Is your favourite chain at risk?
Two WHSmith stores will have closed in Bournemouth by the end of this month (Image: Getty)
WHSmith
The stationery giant WHSmith will close its Old Christchurch Road branch in Bournemouth, Dorset, on Saturday, January 18, in two weeks.
It comes after the recent closure of another WHSmith store in Boscombe, which closed its doors for good in June 2024. A notable 10 sites, including those in Manchester and Somerset, have ceased trading across the UK since March 2023.
The chain’s high street stores have a bleak future, but WHSmith bosses confirmed the opening of 15 new sites next year. These fresh store formats will be targeted in travel hubs like airports and train stations, and some will even serve hot food and coffee.
Shoe Zone
The iconic shoe retailer is set to close 20 or more UK sites, with bosses blaming Labour’s plans in the October Budget for the closures.
A shoezone spokesperson stated that the Chancellor’s decision to increase employers’ national insurance contributions and the minimum wage has resulted in “significant additional costs”.
Homebase
DIY retailer Homebase went into administration in 2024 and placed 74 shops on sale. Since then, 70 branches have been saved, but four are still earmarked to close.
The Homebase shops closing down with no set date are as follows:
- Derry/Londonderry
- Inverurie
- Omagh
- Glenrothes, Fife
Greggs
Renowned for its iconic line-up, including the humble sausage roll, Greggs fans in Coventry have been left saddened by the shock closure of a Greggs store. The Foleshill Road bakery locked its doors for the last time on January 4.
A sign has was placed in the window which read: “Sorry, we are closing on January 4, 2025. Your nearest shop is 118/120 Jubilee Crescent, Radford.”
Greggs bosses have reassured customers that’s it’s not part of wider closure plans, though it hasn’t reassured locals. A Facebook user commented: “This Greggs is very popular and will be sorely missed.”
New Look could close dozens of stores when the leases expire (Image: Getty)
Deichmann
The German shoe shop is one of Europe’s largest footwear retailers, but it will soon close its store in Newport city centre. Shoppers who frequent the Commercial Street store in Newport have until Saturday, January 11, to visit before it closes for good.
It follows seven years of trade in the Welsh city and means that from Saturday onwards, customers will need to head to the store in Cwmbran to get their hands on Deichmann shoes or bags.
New Look
Around 25 percent of New Look’s 364 UK stores are at risk of closure when their leases expire, chief executive Helen Connolly has warned.
The latest insight from The Times stated that while New Look would have shut some stores regardless, the “probable acceleration of closures is a direct result of the significant cost increases announced in October’s budget”.
The New Look boss has shuttered several stores in recent years and the prospect of widespread closures could see the business with a vastly diminished high street presence.
In 2018, the fashion brand traded from almost 600 stores in the UK. Since then, the retailer has overhauled its store estate twice and now has just 364 outlets – all on relatively short leases that link rents to store turnover.
Monki
The H&M-owned fashion chain has announced plans to shut two sites this month. One of the shops, located at the Intu shopping centre in Newcastle Upon Tyne, closed on January 2, just days after welcoming Christmas shoppers. A second in Manchester’s Arndale Centre will cease trading on January 17.
Parent brand H&M plans to close seven Monki stores as it merges the brand with trendy fashion chain Weekday. According to statements, the retailer hopes that blending the stores will create a “new youth destination” for younger shoppers.
Starbucks
Starbucks coffee shops are easy to find in the UK, but the iconic US brand will close two of its branches this month.
The coffee house on Dumfries High Street will cease trading this Sunday, January 12. Customers will be rerouted to the store on Annan Road, Dumfries, to fulfil their cravings from then onwards.
A spokesperson for the chain said it regularly reviews its portfolio to ensure its stores are relevant for customers.
Meanwhile, a second site located in Cineworld at Sixfields Leisure will close for good on January 19. This follows the cinema chain’s announcement that it would close a string of stores.
However, staff at the Starbucks site may be offered positions at nearby stores. A spokesperson said: “We thank our customers for their loyalty over the years and invite them to find their nearest stores in Northampton, Market Square and St James Retail Park.”
The Body Shop
The Body Shop was plunged into administration in February last year, resulting in 800 staff members being made redundant.
A staggering 82 shops closed in the weeks that followed the administration, but Aurea Group rescued hundreds of other sites in September 2024.
Some have survived the changes, but the retailer announced that two stores would close this January. The Body Shop will close its 30-year-old Sheffield branch in Orchard Square on January 15.
Meanwhile, a second store will cease trading in Castle Street, Norwich, on the same day. This comes a staggering 44 years after the site first welcomed shoppers.
Matalan
Greggs isn’t the only chain to have closed stores this month. High street staple Matalan closed its store in Chester for good last weekend. The store in Stadium Way near the Greyhound Retail Park ceased trading on January 4.
A spokesperson credited the closure to plans to “redevelop the site”, adding: “Our priority is to support our colleagues and we are working closely with all those affected and where possible offering them alternative positions.”
The Entertainer
Children’s toy chain The Entertainer wasted no time closing its store in Edinburgh this year. The Cameron Toll shopping centre site shut for good on January 4 after 10 years of trading.
Boss Andrew Murphy previously said changes in the Government Budget would affect the firm’s finances, though the exact reason for this closure has yet to be confirmed. However, the toy giant has been forced to axe plans to open two new stores due to the Government changes.
Iceland
The frozen-food speciality supermarket bid farewell to two of its 900 UK stores last weekend. Iceland closed shops in Exeter and Borehamwood on Saturday, January 4.
At 4pm the Shenley Road store in Borehamwood closed for the final time. The Alphington Road Retail Park site in Exeter also closed for the final time on Saturday.
However, shoppers can still get their hands on some Icelandic products at the retail park. This is because some Iceland goods will be sold at The Range store, which is opposite.
