The UK’s high street is facing a fresh wave of mass store closures ahead of Christmas. The Centre for Retail Research reported nearly 10,500 shop closures in 2023, with rampant job losses – nearly 119,000 across the sector.
And the carnage has carried on in 2024 with 1,846 shutters coming down in the first half-year alone, seeing nearly 24,000 retail workers out of jobs. Department store behemoths Marks and Spencer and House of Fraser are slashing branches in November, while Wetherspoon is shuttering a historic branch.
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House of Fraser
House of Fraser is bidding farewell to Bluewater, Kent after a storied 25-year run, set to close its doors for the last time on November 27, leaving its prominent spot over two floors in the UK’s fifth-largest shopping centre. Amidst several prior shutdowns including Plymouth’s branch due to “unforeseen circumstances” and Lakeside’s outlet which called it quits in January 2024, the Cabot Circus store has also shut recently, scheduled to be taken over by M&S come 2025.
All of this form part of the ongoing demise since business tycoon Mike Ashley’s rescue of the famed retail chain four years ago. With around 28 stores left, the Kent closure strikes yet another blow for the struggling brand.
Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer’s popular branch in Queensway, Crawley, is set to shut its doors on November 16. The decision, according to Graham Bennett, MandS regional manager, was influenced by changing shopping habits, reports the Express.
This closure is part of dozens planned under a 10-year restructuring scheme. However, Crawley locals may soon see a new Foodhall in the city centre as the brand is “looking to invest”.
Mr Bennett stated: “After consulting with our colleagues following our proposals earlier this year, our Queensway store will close on Saturday, November 16. Individual conversations are continuing with our colleagues, and wherever possible, we will be offering them alternative roles with MandS.”
Homebase
Meanwhile, DIY chain Homebase is preparing to say goodbye to two branches in November. This follows the announcement that 10 stores would close after being acquired by Sainsbury’s.
(Image: PA)
Regular customers of the Marsh Mills Retail Park in Plymouth and Southam Road shop in Banbury will need to find alternatives by month-end. Homebase has yet to confirm the closure dates, which are part of a larger retailer-wide consolidation of sites.
The Plymouth and Banbury locations join 93 other stores that have been closed since Hilco Capital took over the brand in 2018. Hilco bought the hardware store chain for £1 from Australian firm Wesfarmers, who had previously paid £340million for the brand.
Decathlon
Decathlon, the French sports retailer, is set to shut down its large store in Forge Retail Park, Telford, Shropshire. The closure, scheduled for November 3, comes just six years after the store’s grand opening.
The company cited a “brand refresh” and a “broader review” of its store network as reasons for the closure, but reassured that staff members are being supported to continue working at the company where possible.
Co-Op
In another blow to the high street, a Co-Op store in Meadows, Nottingham, will cease trading after half a century of serving the local community from its Bridgeway Shopping Centre location. A spokesperson for the Fairtrade retailer described it as a “difficult decision”, triggered by the end of the shop unit lease.
They added: “Co-op regularly reviews its stores. In addition to opening new stores, we sometimes, and only after careful consideration, have to make the difficult decision to close a store.”
Highcliffe-on-Sea, Dorset, also saw a Co-op store close its doors for the last time this year on September 14.
JD Wetherspoon
JD Wetherspoon has confirmed that it will be closing its Foot of the Walk bar in Leith, Edinburgh, on November 3.
(Image: Google Maps)
A spokesperson for the British pub giant expressed gratitude to their staff and customers for their loyalty over the years, adding: “We would like to thank our staff and customers for their loyalty to the pub over many years. Wetherspoon does, on occasion, sell pubs, and this is the situation here”.
This follows a failed attempt by locals to rescue the pub in January through a Change.org petition, which managed to gather over 300 signatures.
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