High Street giants Boots, Clarks and WHSmith shut extra shops – see full checklist

Several leading high street names are set to close more huge stores – dealing another blow to the already beleaguered UK high street.

According to data from Retail Research, 759 stores have closed in the UK in 2024 up until the end of August. That has seen more than 15,000 employees lose their jobs. And the pain isn’t stopping there as four major retails have also confirmed a swathe of closures, including mainstays such as Boots and Beales.

Following on from the announcements that Homebase would close 10 stores, Ted Baker would close all 43 of its stores and that others had gone, Clarks and WHSmith are joining the list alongside Boots and Beales – starting today.

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Clarks

The retail giant, known for selling school shoes, trainers and smart boots, will close a store in Selby and the town of March this month, with the latter preparing to close today.

It’s store one Broad Street in Cambridgeshire will also close today, with the retailer’s confirming on social media: “We are all devastated by the news. But with wage increases and declining footfall, there is not much we can do.

“We’d like to thank our loyal customers who have shopped with us at this store. We’ll be delighted to continue to serve them with our full range of products online and at our nearby Clarks stores in Peterborough and Kings Lynn.”

WHSmith

WHSmith, a familiar sight on UK high streets, has confirmed it’ll be shutting up shop at two locations, as part of wider plans to optimise its operations and concentrate on better-performing stores.

The craft and stationery behemoth declared it would be waving goodbye to Sale’s high street, with the shutting down of its outlet in Stanley Square. The doors are set to shut for the final time on September 14.

A spokesperson from WHSmith said, “We can confirm that the WHSmith store in Sale will be closing.”

It also confirmed that the store in Street, Somerset, will shut in January next year, with the spokesman adding that it was not “sustainable” to continue trading there.

Beales

The retail sector’s ongoing struggles, which have already claimed industry titans Debenhams and House of Fraser, continue to impact the department store chain.

Beales has confirmed that its Liverpool branch, a local landmark known for its extensive selection of fashion and homeware products, will be closing down permanently in just one week.

Boots

Pharmacy giant Boots has earmarked a number of stores for closure this year, with many already having shut up shop.

While some outlets confirmed for closure are still trading, they’re expected to be shuttered by the end of summer. This includes four London locations:.

• 383 Upper Richmond Rd, Putney, London, SW15 5QJ

• 8-10 Camden High Road, Mornington Crescent, London, NW1 0JH

• 100 New Bridge St, London EC4V 6JJ

• 315-317 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, London, N13 4YB.

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