UK vogue big to shut one other retailer in April as 20% closing down sale launched

New Look is set to close another store this week, with a closing down sale now live. It comes after the retailer shut 41 stores last year

A British fashion powerhouse with over 300 outlets is preparing to shut another high street location this week. New Look’s Carrickfergus branch in Northern Ireland will close its doors permanently on Wednesday (April 15), after a string of closures throughout last year.

Devastated shoppers branded the announcement as “shocking” after an update appeared on the outlet’s social media channels

Workers acknowledged the choice was out of their control, posting: “We are gutted that it is the end of our New Look journey, but unfortunately this is something that is out of our hands.” The shop has kicked off a closure sale offering 20% reductions on merchandise.

This follows a difficult period for the cherished fashion chain, which has battled dwindling visitor numbers and mounting expenses, similar to other high street retailers.

The company entirely pulled out of Ireland last February, concluding “it was no longer viable to continue trading” across the nation.

New Look stated it had been forced to “navigate a tough external environment which has only become more unpredictable” during that period.

This, alongside 15 shutdowns across Wales and England, resulted in the chain losing 41 premises throughout last year.

The closures are believed to have been driven by a punishing Autumn Budget in 2024, when Rachel Reeves revealed employers would need to boost their National Insurance contributions, reports the Express.

It aligned with yearly minimum wage rises, climbing business rates charges, and soaring energy expenses.

A New Look spokesperson told the Metro that physical shops remained a crucial element of the business. They said: “Our store estate is an important part of our business, alongside our best-in-class website and app. It is this omni-channel approach which allows us to best serve our 10 million customers, however they like to shop.”

The retailer has already experienced significant restructuring since 2018 when it ran 600 stores. According to the New Look website, it currently operates 338 stores across the UK and boasts 1million New Look club members.

UK closures

1. New Look, Hinckley, Leicestershire
2. New Look, The Potteries, Staffordshire
3. New Look, Brunswick Centre, Scarborough
4. New Look, Neath, Wales
5. New Look, Hamilton, Scotland
6. New Look, Birmingham, Northfield shopping centre
7. New Look, Willow Place, Corby, Northamptonshire
8. New Look Bexleyheath, London
9. New Look, Preston
10. New Look, Valley Retail World in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
11. New Look, St Austell, Cornwall
12. New Look, Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales
13. New Look, Wickford, Essex
14. New Look, Carillon Court Shopping Centre, Loughborough
15. New Look, Devizes, Wiltshire

Ireland closures

1. Northside Shopping Centre (Dublin)
2. Liffey Valley Shopping Centre (Dublin)
3. Tallaght (Dublin)
4. Omni Park Shopping Centre (Dublin)
5. Blanchardstown (Dublin)
6. Jervis Street (Dublin)
7. Wilton Shopping Centre (Cork)
8. Ballincollig Shopping Centre (Cork)
9. Blackpool Shopping Centre (Cork)
10. Opera Lane (Cork)
11. Galway City
12. Gateway Retail Park (Galway)
13. Ashbourne
14. Bridgewater Shopping Centre, Arklow
15. Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow
16. Navan Shopping Centre
17. Whitewater Shopping Centre, Newbridge
18. Clonmel
19. Limerick
20. Killarney
21. Wexford
22. Grand Parade, Mullingar
23. Castlebar, County Mayo
24. Dungarvan
25. The Marshes Shopping Centre, Dundalk
26. Letterkenny Retail Park

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