A NUMBER of high street retailers and a pub chain are closing branches in January.
Jack Wills, Poundland and Wetherspoons will all welcome in customers for the final time within a matter of days and weeks.
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It comes as a number of retailers shut across the UK, including 6,000 retail outlets since 2018, according to the British Retail Consortium.
The trade association’s chief executive Helen Dickinson OBE blamed the closures on “crippling” business rates and the impact of coronavirus lockdowns.
Several major brands have also collapsed, such as Wilko and Paperchase.
Meanwhile, data from real estate analysts Altus Group earlier this year showed 383 pubs closed for good in the first six months of 2023.
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Retailers and pub chains are closing stores within days too. Here is the full list shutting branches in January:
Jack Wills
Jack Wills is set to pull down the shutters on its store at the Galleries Shopping Centre in Bristol next month.
It had already started a closing down sale with 20% off items earlier this month, Bristol World reported.
Shoppers next nearest store is at The Mall in Cribbs Causeway on the outskirts of the city.
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It comes following a string of Jack Wills store closures across the UK, including its branch in St Andrews, Scotland, in October.
Poundland
Giant discount chain Poundland is pulling down the shutters on its branch in Colwyn Bay, Wales, on January 5.
The retailer confirmed it had not been able to renew the lease for the store at the Bayview Shopping Centre.
Shoppers reacted with devastation at the news, with one simply stating: “There won’t be anything left soon.”
It comes with one other Poundland store near Basingstoke set to close within just days.
Next
Fashion retailer Next is pulling down the shutters on its branch in Hatfield on January 13, according to local news reports.
One shopper said they were “devastated” by the news, with another adding: “What is happening to our town?”
It comes after the chain said it would close 11 stores this year in a blow to shoppers.
The retailer said six of the closures were because it did not expect the stores to reach their target margins.
Two of the closures are site redevelopments, while the remaining three are taking place because an agreement couldn’t be reached with the site’s landlord.
Wetherspoons
Major pub chain Wetherspoons is closing one its branches next month.
The Percy Shaw in Halifax will pull its last pint on January 7 after the venue was sold to a new owner.
The venue will then reopen under new ownership eight days later.
News of the closure was met with anger by local residents, with one saying: “What?! Why?” and another adding: “Another bit of history gone.”
It comes as up to 20 Wetherspoon‘s drinks spots could close permanently with the boozers up for sale.
What about store openings?
It’s not all bad news for pub chains and retailers, as some are openings branches in January.
B&M is opening two stores in Porthmadog and Washington on January 18 and January 26 respectively.
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Asda has said it is on track to open 1,000 more sites throughout the UK and Northern Ireland by March 2024 too.
Meanwhile, Wilko also has plans to open more stores in January after pulling up the shutters on branches in Plymouth, Luton and Exeter.
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