Several UK excessive road giants set to shut down this week – see full record

Well-known British brands including Claire’s, Russell and Bromley, LK Bennett and Ark Pet Centres have closed stores this week amid rising costs

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A string of well-known British brands have become the latest high street casualties this week as they’ve pulled down the shutters. Numerous businesses are battling amid a surge of cost increases.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has disclosed that UK retailers have been hammered with a “£5.6 billion wave of additional costs” spanning 2025 and 2026. Expenses include a cut in rates relief, increased wages, fresh packaging levies and the April 2026 surge in property values.

Additionally, further rises loom on the horizon as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has cautioned that the economic impact from the Iran war will “go on”. Regrettably, several shops have vanished from the high street this week as they took the difficult decision to shut down.

Claire’s

In a devastating blow, Claire’s shuttered all 154 of its UK outlets this week. Administrators at Kroll confirmed the closures and revealed that approximately 1,300 staff will lose their jobs as a consequence.

The decision didn’t impact Claire’s 356 concessions, including numerous branches in Asda stores, and its headquarters. Nevertheless, the Guardian reports that Claire’s might be poised to relaunch four to 10 shops weekly from June onwards.

Claire’s had previously closed 145 outlets, with roughly 1,000 positions axed, during the earlier administration last year.

Russell and Bromley

The British footwear chain has shuttered 33 outlets. The final Russell and Bromley store closure occurred on April 23 following the company’s announcement of the initial 10 closures on April 21. Administrators have confirmed that the planned closure of the remaining 33 stores and nine concessions not acquired by Next has now been completed. The retailer, established in 1880, had a workforce of 320 prior to the closures.

Interpath administrators informed Drapers: “All stores that did not transfer to Next as part of that transaction closed on or before 23 April 2026.

“Regrettably, these closures mean that the majority of employees working in the non‐transferring stores have been made redundant. The administrators and their teams are engaging closely with all affected staff and will be providing support throughout the process, including assisting individuals in submitting claims to the redundancy payments service.

“The administrators continue to oversee the wind‐down of the remaining parts of the business and will provide further updates as appropriate.”

Luxury fashion label LK Bennett has shut down nine stores following its entry into administration. These nine outlets were scheduled for closure by the end of April, but stock sold out quicker than expected.

The remaining 13 concessions will remain open while stocks last, but are due to close imminently. LK Bennett entered administration in January after failing to find a buyer, and approximately 90 jobs have been impacted by the closures.

The brand, which counts Princess Kate and Queen Camilla among its devoted followers, was snapped up from administration by Gordon Brothers’ brand management division in January. The LK Bennett name and its related intellectual property assets were secured in the transaction.

Nimit Shah, Gordon Brothers’ managing director for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region, said: “We believe the LK Bennett brand is capable of reinvigoration under a new asset-light model.”

Ark Pet Centres

The pet retailer, which operated stores throughout South and East Devon, including in Plymouth, Exeter and Torbay, announced the immediate closure of all its branches this week.

A spokesperson confirmed: “It is with huge regret and sadness that we announce that after 30 years of trading, we will be shutting our doors for good as of today – 23rd April. This affects all stores.

“While we have all worked incredibly hard to weather the economic storm, we can no longer sustain the increasing pressure and huge rising costs, and with more increases on the horizon, we have had to make the heartbreaking decision to cease trading.

“We would like to thank our wonderful team who have worked hard to make The Ark what it was – and we truly wish them all the very best for the future. To our loyal customers – thank you, we appreciate you and we truly will miss serving you and your pets.

“We never set out to be a ‘pet shop’, we wanted to be a place where local people could get help and advice on pet care from people they trusted, and we’re proud to have done that for the last 30 years. We have loved every minute of this from day one, thank you for being part of our journey.”