Store closures in 2025 will involve high street favourites including WHSmith and The Entertainer. It’s all down to a decrease in consumer spending as well as increased rents and operational costs
High street favourites WHSmith and The Entertainer are among the chains set to close more stores in 2025. A staggering 8,543 retail outlets across the UK shut their doors in 2024, according to data from the Centre for Retail Research.
This is largely attributed to the cost of living crisis causing a decrease in consumer spending, coupled with increased rents and operational costs for retailers. The alarm has already been sounded by some businesses over next year’s costs, following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ confirmation of an increase in National Insurance contributions paid by employers.
Here’s a rundown of the shops confirmed to be closing in 2025 so far.
WHSmith
WHSmith is set to close its Winton branch in Bournemouth, Dorset, on February 15. However, it’s not all doom and gloom for the retailer.
Earlier this year, they announced plans to open approximately 110 new outlets in airports, railway stations and hospitals, focusing on their travel division. Additionally, WHSmith will be opening 37 new Toys R Us concessions within their existing stores, reports the Mirror. Currently, WHSmith operates over 1,100 stores across the UK.
The Entertainer
The Entertainer is due to close its store at the Cameron Toll shopping centre in Edinburgh on January 4. Despite this, the toy retailer has ambitious global expansion plans and has launched over 850 brand-new toy shops within Tesco stores. The Entertainer currently boasts more than 160 stores in the UK.
Homebase
Homebase is shutting up shop in Derry/Londonderry, Inverurie, Omagh and Fife as the new year rolls in. The DIY titan tumbled into administration before most of its stores were snapped up by retail mammoth CDS, which also runs The Range, rescuing 1,600 jobs and a network of 70 stores.
Central Co-op
Central Co-op is axing 19 of its stores across the heart of England. Part of the larger Co-operative Group, this chain will see three of its closing stores reborn as BandMs, while master convenience player Samy bags the remaining 16.
Already at the helm of 32 diverse shops including Budgens, Spar, Londis, and Premier, Samy will get the keys to all 19 by the end of May 2025.
Monki
Monki, owned by H&M, is exiting the UK high street, starting with seven closures next year. Newcastle’s Intu Eldon Square bids farewell to its store on January 2, followed by Manchester Arndale on January 17, as H&M merges a “limited number” with its sibling label, Weekday.
Millets
And it’s pack-away time for Millets too, with six early closures in 2025. Shoppers in Lowestoft, Douglas, York and Grimsby won’t find Millets anymore but can discover Go Outdoors, another brand in the family umbrella. All in, Millets boasts around 100 UK stores to its name.