High avenue chain closes 17 shops as consumers declare ‘one other one bites the mud’
The High Street favourite is set to close more stores across the UK in 2025, with two already closed and another shutting for good in just days, leaving shoppers disaspointed
An iconic high street chain is set to close 17 stores for good over the next few months, with one closing in just a few days.
Over the past few months, popular chain WHSmith has been sharing news of its upcoming closures. The retailer, which operates over 1,100 stores, has closed a number of locations since 2023, with additional closures on the way over the coming months.
The stores that are being shut for good are spread across the UK and will begin closing their doors for the final time from now until May.
The news comes after the retailer said that it will continue to close up to 20 stores each year for the next three years. However, the popular chain has also confirmed that it plans to open 90 new sites over the next three years.
Two WHSmith sites shut their doors this week, after holding huge closing down sales. The WHSmith store located on Bournemouth high street gave shoppers the chance to snap up a bargain with discounts up to 50% off before it closed.
The store shut yesterday, January 18, for good. Local shoppers were quick to share their disappointment at the news that the store would be closing for good.
One person said: “Another shop closing, so sad to see this.” While another said: “Another bites the dust here in Bournemouth it’s almost a ghost town.”
A spokesperson for WHSmith told The Sun it was “disappointed” to be closing the branch but that it was “no longer sustainable”
The Bournemouth store wasn’t the only location to close its doors for the last time, the WHSmith shop in Luton also shut for good. With the store also being described as ‘no longer sustainable to trade from”.
According to WHSmith, staff will be supported and, where possible, deployed to nearby stores.
Later this month, WHSmith is also set to shut is store in March, Cambridgeshire, with further closures planned for the rest of the year.
The full list of WHSmith stores set to be closed over the coming months can be see here:
- Bournemouth Old Christchurch Road, Dorset – January 18
- Luton, Bedfordshire – January 18
- March, Cambridgeshire – January 25
- Basingstoke, Hampshire – February 1
- Newtown, Powys – February 15
- Winton branch in Bournemouth, Dorset – February 15
- Rhyl, Denbighshire – February 15
- Bolton, Greater Manchester – February
- Accrington, Lancashire – March 15
- Halstead, Essex – April
- Halesowen, West Midlands – April
- Diss, Norfolk – April
- Newport, Isle of Wight – April
- Haverhill, Suffolk – April 26
- Stockton, County Durham – May
- Oldham, Greater Manchester – May
- Orpington, Greater London – no date given yet
