NINE retailers are closing stores between them next month in an ongoing blow for shoppers.
The high street has taken a battering in recent years as consumers have been increasingly turning to online retail.
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The ongoing cost of living living has seen households with less money in their pockets too, leading some to cut back on their spending.
This has had a knock-on effect on high street shops, which have seen lower footfall and less money landing in the tills, and many have been forced to close outlets.
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research, a research foundation, revealed almost 10,500 shops closed for the final time in 2023.
The 12-month period also saw over 119,000 jobs lost across the sector.
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A number of chains are closing stores between them in May too, in a fresh blow for those who love mooching around their high street.
From Next to Poundland, WHSmith and Poundstretcher, here are all the branches shutting within the coming days or weeks.
Next
Next, which operates roughly 460 branches across the UK, is set to pull down the shutters on its site in Malvern within days.
The fashion retailer will close the Worcestershire store on May 1 in a blow for locals.
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Shoppers will no doubt will be disappointed by the closure, with the store coming with plenty of good reviews on Google.
One branded the site “cheerful” with another noting its “lovely and helpful” staff.
Retailers opening shops in 2024
It comes after Next said it would close 11 stores when it released its results last year.
But it’s not all bad news, as the retailer also opened four new outlet stores in 2023.
These stores feature a selection of outlet products, past season collections and clearance items at discounted prices.
Poundland
Major discounter Poundland, which has around 800 branches across the UK, is shuttering its store in Bishop’s Stortford in days.
The Hertfordshire location will welcome in customers for the final time on May 4.
Why are retailers closing stores?
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year, and more are coming.
The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested.
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector.
It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022.
The centre’s director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is “less bad” than good.
Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.
“The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend,” Prof Bamfield said.
“Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”
Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023’s biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.
The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing.
However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses.
The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have already collapsed into administration this year.
The store opened just six months ago, taking over a former Wilko site.
Shoppers have taken to Facebook to share their dismay at the abrupt closure, with one branding it “a shame”.
Another added: “You’re joking! Just found out it’s there.”
It’s not all bad news for Poundland fans though, as the retailer snapped up 71 ex-Wilko stores last year, with plans to reopen them under the brand name.
Clinton’s
Clinton’s is pulling down the shutters on its branch in Kettering next month.
The card retailer, which runs almost 180 UK stores, will welcome customers into the Northamptonshire shop for the last time on May 8, according to local news reports.
Visitors have long praised the store online, with one saying that these “shops should still exist”, yet many are becoming mostly online-based.
Another customer added that the store has a “very good selection of cards, balloons, gifts and teddies”.
The Works
Discount chain The Works is closing its store in Dereham, Norfolk, in little over a week.
Unfortunately for locals, the branch will shutter for good on May 10.
One customer said the store would be “sadly missed” while another described it as “such a gem”.
But in more positive news, The Works, which has more than 520 stores nationwide, has opened four relocated stores in recent months.
Sites have opened their doors in Wolverhampton, Llanelli and Grimsby, as well as Inverness, West Durrington and Beckton.
WHSmith
WHSmith is pulling down the shutters on two stores next month.
The bookstore chain is closing its branches in Slough, Berkshire, and Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, on May 11 in a double whammy for shoppers.
With over 1,400 branches nationwide, WHSmith fans have been left bereft about the closure of the Slough branch.
Taking to Facebook, one shopper said: “Are there any actual shops left in Slough High Street?”
Another ranted: “Another good shop going, may as well shut the high street down, not worth staying open. What a sad affair.”
Commenting on the Huddersfield closure, one local said: “We’ve lost what’s good in this town” while another branded the closure “sad” news.
Poundstretcher
Discount store poundstretcher, a rival to Poundland, is closing its branch in Peterlee, County Durham, on May 15.
Locals have been left devastated about the closure, with one claiming it marks the “end of an era”.
Another commented that they were “gutted” for staff.
It comes after another Poundstretcher store shut in Chesterfield in March, according to local news reports.
The discount chain also closed 13 branches across the UK in 2023.
However, the retailer, which has around 450 branches has also announced major expansion plans in recent years.
In February 2023 it said it wanted to open 50 more stores before the end of the year.
M&S
Upmarket retailer M&S is shuttering three branches across England and Wales next month.
The chain is permanently closing a store in Bradford on May 18, with workers offered alternative roles “wherever possible”.
It will also close a store in Hexham, Northumberland, on May 25, according to local news reports.
M&S has plans to shut down its branch in Neath, Wales, in May too, although an exact closure date has not yet been confirmed.
News of the closures has stunned locals.
Commenting on the Bradford closure, one said: “Stores are going left right and centre.”
Another added: “RIP high street shopping.”
It comes as M&S is in the process of shaking up its high street store presence, closing 110 branches across the UK while opening up another 100.
House of Fraser
House of Fraser, which operates almost 30 UK stores, is closing one of its branches in Carlisle next month.
The Cumbria branch will welcome customers for the final time in May, although an exact closure date has not been revealed.
The department store shutting means a Caffe Nero store inside will also be disappearing permanently.
Shoppers have been left shocked after finding out the giant store will close down for good.
One local, commenting on Facebook, said: “Aww that’s very sad to hear many happy memories in this place, especially in the cafe and the lifts.”
Another wrote: “Gutted. Fraser’s is great for fellas.”
Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee is shuttering its branch in Uppingham in May in bad news for caffeine lovers.
The Rutland site, known as a “delightful haven”, will continue operating as normal until it closes.
A spokesperson for the chain, which still has more than 2,000 outlets, said all staff members would be re-deployed to other stores.
Customers next nearest branch is in Oakham, around seven miles away.
What else is happening on the high street?
The high street has been hit hard in recent years as consumers turn to online retail.
High energy and wage costs and business rates have further piled pressure on stores, forcing many to close sites to save money.
A number of major brands have shockingly crashed into administration since last year, including beloved home retailer Wilko and Paperchase.
This year, The Body Shop also fell into administration which has seen dozens of branches already close.
Other retailers have been closing shops in a bid to cut costs.
Last June, Boots said it would be shutting 300 of its 2,200 stores in areas where it already operates one nearby.
Superdry announced plans to close eight of its 104 UK branches last July as part of a £35million cost-cutting project.
But it’s not all doom and gloom.
Discount giant B&M has opened 27 branches this year, while Aldi has its eyes set on opening hundreds more stores in the coming years.
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DIY chain Screwfix is also set to open dozens of branches as its owner Kingfisher looks to expand its nationwide presence.
And Lidl is eyeing up potential sites where it is keen to open shops.
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