Many shops will close towards the end of the year(Image: Getty)
Christmas shopping season is approaching, but shoppers may discover their go-to retailers have vanished from the high street entirely.
High street closures have become an all-too-familiar sight across Britain in recent years, with household names disappearing at an alarming rate.
We’ve witnessed the demise of retail giants including department store stalwarts Debenhams, BHS and House of Fraser, whilst more recently we’ve bid farewell to WH Smith (now TGJones) and Homebase outlets, alongside reductions in New Look, Poundland, Starbucks and various supermarket locations.
These shutdowns form part of a wider crisis, with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) cautioning that as many as 400 of Britain’s biggest shops face closure if ministers push ahead with plans to force them into higher business rates tax brackets.
The BRC stated that “like all of retail”, these outlets were already buckling under mounting employment expenses, hefty taxes, and escalating rates bills, resulting in 1,000 such premises closing over the past five years, reports the Express.
The organisation calculated that should all 400 vulnerable stores shut down, up to 100,000 positions could vanish and local authorities’ business rates income from retail would plummet by “well over” £100 million annually.
The BRC is now urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to utilise October’s autumn Budget to implement reforms “without simply shifting the cost onto larger stores – which would be massively damaging to our high streets”. With the spectre of further store closures on the horizon, it might be prudent to kick-start your Christmas shopping early this year, in case more retailers are compelled to pull down their shutters.
If you’re struggling to keep up with the flurry of closure announcements this year, here’s a summary of the stores that have ceased trading in 2025, including household names like Sainsbury’s, Iceland and Morrisons.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsburys will also see a number of stores close in 2025(Image: Mike Kemp, In Pictures via Getty Images)
In a bid to save £1 billion over three years, Sainsbury’s is closing its remaining 61 in-store cafes in 2025. This follows the closure of 200 in-store cafes nearly three years ago, with the latest wave of shutdowns in 2025 resulting in over 3,000 job losses.
Fosse Park, LeicestershirePontypridd, South WalesRustington, West SussexScarborough, North YorkshirePenzance, CornwallDenton, Greater ManchesterWrexham, North WalesLongwater, Norwich, NorfolkEly, CambridgeshirePontllanfraith, South WalesEmersons Green, South GloucestershireNantwich, CheshirePinhoe Road, Exeter, DevonPepper Hill – Northfleet, KentMarshall Lake, Solihull, West MidlandsRhyl, North WalesLincoln, LincolnshireBridgemead, Swindon, WiltshireLarkfield, Aylesford, KentWhitchurch Bargates, ShropshireSedlescombe Road, Hastings, East SussexBarnstaple, DevonDewsbury, West YorkshireKings Lynn Hardwick, NorfolkTruro, CornwallWarren Heath, Ipswich, SuffolkGodalming, SurreyHereford, HerefordshireChichester, West SussexBognor Regis, West SussexNewport, South WalesTalbot Heath, DorsetRugby, WarwickshireCannock, StaffordshireLeek, StaffordshireWinterstoke Road, BristolHazel Grove, Stockport, Greater ManchesterMorecambe, LancashireDarlington, County DurhamMonks Cross, Huntington, North YorkshireMarsh Mills, Plymouth, DevonSpringfield, Chelmsford, EssexDurham, County DurhamBamber Bridge, LancashireWeedon Road, Northampton, East MidlandsHempstead Valley, KentHedge End, HampshireBury St Edmunds, SuffolkThanet Westwood Cross, KentStanway, Colchester, EssexCastle Point, EssexIsle of WightKeighley, West YorkshireSwadlincote, DerbyshireLeicester North, East MidlandsWakefield Marsh Way, Wakefield, West YorkshireTorquay, DevonWaterlooville, HampshireMacclesfield, CheshireHarrogate, North YorkshireCheadle, Greater ManchesterIceland
Earlier this year, Iceland shuttered several supermarkets:.
Margate, College SquareInverness, Rose StreetShotton, Chester Road storeInverness, City Centre storeShenley Road, BorehamwoodAlphington Road Retail Park, ExeterMorrisons
Morrisons have also been forced into closures (stock)(Image: Bloomberg, Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In 2025, Morrisons has closed a host of its Daily convenience stores and Cafes, along with its Market Kitchens, meat and fish counters, florists and pharmacies.
The closures include:
Morrisons Daily convenience stores
Gorleston Lowestoft Road – NorfolkPeebles 3-5 Old Town – Scottish Borders, ScotlandShenfield 214 Hutton Road – EssexPoole Waterloo Estate – DorsetTonbridge Higham Lane Est – KentRomsey The Cornmarket – HampshireStewarton Lainshaw Street – East Ayrshire, ScotlandSelsdon Featherbed Lane – Greater LondonHaxby Village – North YorkshireGreat Barr Queslett Rd – West MidlandsWhickham Oakfield Road – Tyne and WearWorle – SomersetGoring-By-Sea Strand Parade – West SussexWoking Westfield Road – SurreyWokingham 40 Peach Street – BerkshireExeter 51 Sidwell Street – DevonBath Moorland Road – Somerset
Morrisons Cafés
Bradford Thornbury – West YorkshirePaisley Falside Rd – Renfrewshire, ScotlandLondon Queensbury – Greater LondonPortsmouth – HampshireGreat Park – Tyne and WearBanchory North Deeside Rd – Aberdeenshire, ScotlandFailsworth Poplar Street – Greater ManchesterBlackburn Railway Road – LancashireLeeds Swinnow Rd – West YorkshireLondon Wood Green – Greater LondonKirkham Poulton St – LancashireLutterworth Bitteswell Rd – LeicestershireStirchley – West MidlandsLeeds Horsforth – West YorkshireLondon Erith – Greater LondonCrowborough – East SussexBellshill John St – North Lanarkshire, ScotlandDumbarton Glasgow Rd – West Dunbartonshire, ScotlandEast Kilbride Lindsayfield – South Lanarkshire, ScotlandEast Kilbride Stewartfield – South Lanarkshire, ScotlandGlasgow Newlands – Glasgow, ScotlandLargs Irvine Rd – North Ayrshire, ScotlandTroon Academy St – South Ayrshire, ScotlandWishaw Kirk Rd – North Lanarkshire, ScotlandNewcastle upon Tyne Cowgate – Tyne and WearNorthampton Kettering Road – NorthamptonshireBromsgrove Buntsford Ind Pk – WorcestershireSolihull Warwick Rd – West MidlandsBrecon Free St – Powys, WalesCaernarfon North Rd – Gwynedd, WalesHadleigh – SuffolkHarrow, Hatch End – Greater LondonHigh Wycombe Temple End – BuckinghamshireLeighton Buzzard Lake St – BedfordshireLondon Stratford – Greater LondonSidcup Westwood Lane – Greater LondonWelwyn Garden City Black Fan Rd – HertfordshireWarminster Weymouth St – WiltshireOxted Station Yard – SurreyReigate Bell St – SurreyBorehamwood – HertfordshireWeybridge, Monument Hill – SurreyBathgate – West Lothian, ScotlandErskine Bridgewater SC – Renfrewshire, ScotlandGorleston Blackwell Road – NorfolkConnah’s Quay – Flintshire, WalesMansfield Woodhouse – NottinghamshireElland – West YorkshireGloucester – Metz Way – GloucestershireWatford – Ascot Road – HertfordshireLittlehampton – Wick – West SussexHelensburgh – Argyll and Bute, ScotlandMarks and Spencer
While Marks and Spencer has unveiled plans to roll out new food halls nationwide, it permanently closed a major city centre store last month as part of a strategy to reduce the number of outlets selling food, clothing and homeware, shifting focus to food-only shops. The store that was closed on 27 September was:.
Dudley Street, WolverhamptonPoundland
Poundland has confirmed a series of store closures following court approval for a significant restructuring plan aimed at preventing administration. The retailer has already shut numerous stores this year, including the following:
Blackburn, LancashireCookstown, Northern IrelandErdington, West MidlandsKimberley Nottingham, NottinghamshireHorsham, West SussexHull Kingston retail park, East YorkshireKettering, NorthamptonshireOmagh, Northern IrelandShepherd’s Bush, Greater LondonSouthport, MerseysideTaunton, SomersetIrvine, ScotlandAmmanford, WalesBirmingham Fort Shopping Park, West MidlandsCardiff, WalesCramlington, NorthumberlandLeicester, LeicestershireLong Eaton, NottinghamshirePort Glasgow, ScotlandSeaham, County DurhamShrewsbury, ShropshireTunbridge Wells, KentBedford, BedfordshireBidston Moss, MerseysideBroxburn, ScotlandCraigavon, Northern IrelandDartmouth, DevonEast Dulwich, Greater LondonFalmouth, CornwallHull St Andrew retail park, East YorkshireNewtownabbey, Northern IrelandPerth, ScotlandPoole, DorsetSunderland Pallion retail park, Tyne and WearStafford, StaffordshireThornaby, North YorkshireWorcester, WorcestershireBrigg, North LincolnshireCanterbury, KentCoventry Hertford Street, West MidlandsNewcastle Killingworth Centre, Tyne and WearKings Heath, West MidlandsPeterborough Orton Gate shopping centre, CambridgeshirePeterlee, County DurhamRainham, KentSalford, Greater ManchesterSheldon, West MidlandsWells, SomersetWhitechapel, Greater LondonSwiss Cottage, Greater LondonSouthampton West Quay, HampshireChiswick, Greater LondonCo-op
Earlier this year, 19 Co-op branches were shuttered due to financial instability, while 22 Southern Co-Op stores were sold off, some of which are set to reopen as B&M outlets. The closed stores include:
Barnby Dun, High Street – Doncaster, South YorkshireBroughton, High St – NorthamptonshireCroft, Pochin Street – LeicestershireDesborough, Hill Top, Braybrooke Road – NorthamptonshireDudley, Overfield Road – West MidlandsEastwood, Nottingham Road – NottinghamshireEnderby, Mill Lane – LeicestershireKingstanding, Hawthorn Road – West MidlandsLeicester, Evington Rd – LeicestershireLeicester, Narborough Rd – LeicestershireNarborough, Station Road – LeicestershirePeterborough, Mayors Walk – CambridgeshireSprowston, Chartwell Road – NorfolkStafford, Baswich Lane – StaffordshireWigston, Blaby Road – LeicestershireYardley, Stoney Lane – West MidlandsCromer, Middlebrook Way – NorfolkErdington, High Street – West MidlandsShepshed, Hallcroft – LeicestershireBodycare
In September, the beauty chain closed all its remaining stores after entering administration and failing to find a buyer, resulting in 444 job losses. The full list of September closures includes:
Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater ManchesterBanbury, OxfordshireBarnsley, South YorkshireBarrow-in-Furness, CumbriaBedford, BedfordshireBlackburn, LancashireBlackpool, LancashireBraehead, ScotlandBridgnorth, ShropshireBurnley, LancashireBury, Greater ManchesterChorley, LancashireClitheroe, LancashireDarlington, Co DurhamDerby, DerbyshireDundee, ScotlandHalifax, West YorkshireHereford, HerefordshireHinckley, LeicestershireIrvine, ScotlandKeighley, West YorkshireKendal, CumbriaKings Heath, West MidlandsLancaster, LancashireLeeds, West YorkshireLeicester, LeicestershireLeigh, Greater ManchesterLiverpool, MerseysideLivingston, ScotlandLuton, BedfordshireManchester, Greater ManchesterMerry Hill, West MidlandsMetrocentre, Gateshead, Tyne and WearMiddlesbrough, North YorkshireMold, WalesNewcastle, Tyne and WearNuneaton, WarwickshireOldham, Greater ManchesterPontefract, West YorkshirePoulton-le-Fylde, LancashirePreston, LancashireRugby, WarwickshireSheffield, South YorkshireSolihull, West MidlandsSunderland, Tyne and WearSutton Coldfield, West MidlandsSwindon, WiltshireTelford, ShropshireThurrock, EssexTrowbridge, WiltshireWakefield, West YorkshireWalthamstow, north-east LondonWarrington, CheshireWashington, Tyne and WearWellingborough, NorthamptonshireWolverhampton, West Midlands
The following Bodycare locations have already been closed:
BeverleyBoltonBromsgroveCameron TollCannockCastlefordChesterfieldClydebankCramlingtonCroydonDarwenDoncasterDudleyDumfriesDunfermlineEdinburghErdingtonFalkirkGreenockHanleyHemel HempsteadHullHydeIlfordIpswichKirkcaldyLoughboroughLytham St AnnesMacclesfieldMaidstoneMansfieldMorecambeMorpethNewarkNewportNorthallertonNorthfieldOrmskirkPaisleyParkheadPerthPort TalbotRedcarRhylRochdaleRoytonSalfordScunthorpeShrewsburySkiptonSt HelensStevenageStourbridgeSutton-in-AshfieldTamworthThornabyUlverstonWest BromwichWhitehavenWood GreenWorkingtonWrexhamNew Look
New Look has revealed plans to close dozens of stores by the end of 2025 due to economic difficulties.
The popular fashion brand recently announced that it would be winding down its operations in the Republic of Ireland, closing 26 stores and making nearly 350 jobs redundant. These come alongside the following stores that have already closed this year:
Carillon Court Shopping Centre LoughboroughWickford, EssexPorth, Rhondda Cynon TafSt Austell, CornwallValley Retail World Gateshead, Tyne and WearPrestonBexleyheath, LondonWillow Place, CorbyBirmingham, Northfield shopping centreDevizes, WiltshireHamilton, South LanarkshireNeath, WalesBrunswick Centre, ScarboroughStoke-on-Trent – closing October 14Stockwell Head – closing December 9WH Smith
WH Smith is shutting several of its high street stores this year as part of plans to focus on more profitable locations like airports and railway stations, with some of its shops being sold and rebranded as TG Jones. However, the following stores have permanently closed in 2025:
Bournemouth Old Christchurch Road, DorsetLuton, BedfordshireMarch, CambridgeshireBasingstoke, HampshireNewtown, PowysWinton branch in Bournemouth, DorsetRhyl, DenbighshireBolton, Greater ManchesterAccrington, LancashireHalstead, EssexHalesowen, West MidlandsDiss, NorfolkNewport, Isle of WightHaverhill, SuffolkStockton, County DurhamOldham, Greater ManchesterOrpington, Greater London (no confirmed date yet)Hobbycraft
Hobbycraft store shop has already seen many stores close(Image: Geography Photos, Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Hobbycraft confirmed a series of store closures in August and September this year as part of a significant restructuring, resulting in the permanent closure of several locations:
BagshotBasildonBorehamwoodBristol ImperialBromboroughCanterburyChichesterCirencesterCrayfordDunstableEpping ForestKings LynnLakesideMaidenheadSouthportStaffordStratford Upon AvonWiganHomebase
Homebase fell into administration at the close of last year. However, a deal with retail group CDS, the owner of The Range, managed to rescue 70 stores, while others were acquired by B&Q and Wickes.
The following Homebase sites all shut their doors earlier this year:
BradfordBroadstairsCheltenhamColchester StanwayCoventryDerby ChaddesdenGloucesterHull HessleLondon Streatham ValeObanOldburyRomfordWolverhamptonAbingtonAlnwickAntrimBarnstapleBasildon VangeBelfastBranksomeCannockChesterChichester Discovery ParkCraigavonDaventryDerby KingswayFolkestoneGalwallyGatesheadGlenrothesHarlowHerne BayHoveInverurieLedburyLewesLutonNewcastle Under LymeNorwich Hall RoadNorwichSprowstonNottingham ArnoldSaffron WaldenSelly OakSleafordSudburyWaltham CrossFarnham, SurreyTreliske Industrial Estate, Truro, DevonBasingstoke, HampshireBracknell. BerkshireLetterkenny, County DonegalBury St Edmunds, SuffolkHalbeath Retail Park, Dunfermline, FifeMoor Allerton Centre, Leeds, YorkshireSt Albans, HertfordshireBredbury, StockportEwell, SurreyHeath Retail Park, Honiton, DevonCatford, LondonMilton Keynes, BuckinghamshireOrpington, KentHamilton, South LanarkshireOmagh, County TyroneLondonderryQuiz
Fashion retailer Quiz went into administration in February and shut down 23 stores across the UK and Ireland, impacting around 200 jobs. The full list of closures is as follows:
Athlone, Athlone Town Centre Shopping CentreBrighton, Churchill SquareBristol, Cribbs CausewayDerry, Richmond Shopping CentreDoncaster, Frenchgate CentreDundee, OvergateEnniskillen, Erneside Shopping CentreExeter, Princesshay Shopping CentreFalkirk, Howgate CentreFareham, Whiteley Shopping CentreGlasgow, Forge Shopping CentreGrimsby, Freshney PlaceLiverpool, South John StreetMaidstone, Fremlin WalkMilton Keynes, Silbury ArcadeMotherwell, Brandon Parade SouthNewbridge, Whitewater Shopping CentrePeterborough, Queensgate Shopping CentrePreston, Friargate WalkSouthampton, WestQuay Shopping CentreSwansea, Queens ArcadeTallaght, The SquareTelford, Telford Shopping Centre
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.