All UK excessive road outlets closing in May together with Wetherspoons and Poundland – see listing
A number of retailers are set to close some of their stores this May in the latest blow to the country’s struggling high streets – here’s the full list of all the closures
UK high streets are bracing for another hit as some of the nation’s retail giants prepare to shutter stores for good this May.
The government’s budget, which was rolled out last month, has seen a spike in employer National Insurance contributions along with soaring energy and rent costs, all while foot traffic continues to dwindle, piling on the pressure for retailers.
This year already hasn’t been kind to the retail sector with household names like WHSmith, Iceland, The Entertainer, and Sainsbury’s already closing some outlets. However, it’s worth noting that the opening and closing of stores is part and parcel of the retail game, and doesn’t always spell trouble.
There are a variety of reasons behind such decisions – from strategic relocations and underperformance compared to nearby stores, to exploring new markets where they currently lack presence, reports BristolLive. So, it’s not all doom and gloom.
Here is a full list of high street closures expected next month:
Trade Me In
A trade-in store in St John’s Shopping Centre, Leeds will be closing next month. Trade Me In has confirmed it will be shutting permanently on May 31, with an official statement blaming “big companies filling high streets”.
It reads: “Though it’s undeniably sad to see TMI come to an end, it’s important to remember the significance of shopping at small businesses. Soon the high street will be filled with nothing but big companies, so support your local coffee house, support your indie markets, support your small businesses because they’re all struggling right now.”
The Meat Shack
Birmingham’s beloved fast food spot, located on Thorp Street, will be closing after eight years. The restaurant will shut its doors on May 10.
Owners are now looking for a new home following the end of a lease. The site is up for demolition or redevelopment.
Beales
One of the UK’s oldest department stores will be no more with the closure of its last remaining shop on May 14. Beales first opened in Bournemouth in 1881 and it has confirmed its branch in Poole’s Dolphin Centre will shut its doors.
Chief executive Tony Brown, speaking to the Telegraph, blamed the tax and wages increase in the Budget for making the situation “unviable”. He said: “This, coupled with the risks and uncertainty of further tax increases in the coming years, have left us no other option.
“We have been working with the Dolphin Centre, who have been supportive, along with our investors to ensure an orderly exit.” Beales first entered into administration in January 2020, closing 22 of its 23 shops.
Smiggle
The Smiggle store in Inverness, Scotland will be closing on May 21. The stationery brand, located inside Eastgate Shopping Centre, is running a 50% off sale with a worker telling the Press and Journal the branch could close earlier if products sell out.
It is closing due to the lease expiring and Smiggle deciding not to renew it. There are currently 107 branches across the UK.
Wetherspoons
A Wetherspoons pub, The Spon Gate in Coventry, will close on May 25. It leaves the city with two other Spoons.
“It is a commercial decision taken by Wetherspoon,” said a spokesperson in an official statement. “We thank all our staff and customers over the years.”
Next
Next has made the decision to close its store in Darlington Retail Park. It has been open since 2021 and comes after the retailer warned of potential closures last year.
Shoe Zone
The discount footwear retailer revealed it has been shutting some branches due to “challenging trading conditions” and rising costs. It saw profits before tax plummet by 40% in 2023.
A spokesperson previously confirmed a combination of rising business rates, wage increases, and difficult weather conditions making some stores “unviable”. A Shoe Zone store on Devonshire Road, Bexhill which had been advertising its closure since November, will close on May 13.
Poundland
The shopping chain has been in the process of making a series of store closures while its owners, Pepco, had been looking at a potential sale. Liverpool’s Belle Vale Shopping Centre store is the latest victim, scheduled to shut its doors on May 6.
Morrisons
The major supermarket had confirmed last month it would close 17 of its Daily convenience stores, as well as a number of its cafes, meat counters, fish counters and pharmacies. Most of the Daily stores are earmarked for closure this month, but the Haxby store is not shutting up shop until May 14.
The Entertainer
Arguably the UK’s biggest toy retailer, The Entertainer has added to the number of branches it has closed down with the store in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria which will close on May 3.
Keith Stenhouse, head of region at The Entertainer, said: “We are sad to be closing our Barrow in Furness store as of 3rd May and would like to thank our customers and staff for their loyalty and support.
“We’re proud of the service we’ve offered and are committed to supporting our employees through this situation.” The Entertainer has more than 160 stores up and down the UK.
WHSmith
Stationery retailer WHSmith, which was recently taken over by Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital is closing several stores. It has sold off almost 500 of its branches throughout the UK, with three set to close in May.
The Oldham branch in Greater Manchester will shut its doors on May 3, the Stockton shop in County Durham will cease operations on May 17, and the branch in the Frenchgate Centre in Doncaster will close on May 31.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
