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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Full list of 43 shops and banks vanishing from British high street forever in July – is your local closing?
MAJOR retailers and banks will close several stores for good this month as the high street continues to face difficulties. The closures come as UK businesses continue to faced increased costs alongside a decline in footfall. 1 More retail and bank locations are set to close in July as businesses face lower footfall and higher costs (stock image) Credit: Getty Changes in this year's budget, including an increase in employer National Insurance contributions and energy and rent costs have piled on pressure for companies. As a result, some retailers have been forced to make drastic changes to remain competitive. This includes hiking prices, reviewing expansion plans and reducing the number of stores they have. Here is a full list of the shops and banks we know are shutting in July 2025. The Original Factory Shop The discount high street chain closed nine shops in June after previously warning it would have to shut some 'loss-making' locations. This comes after the discount chain began to struggle in recent years. And now the retailer is now set to close its location in Staveley, Cumbria on July 12. The private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop in February and has since launched a restructuring effort. This was carried out in an effort to renegotiate rents at 88 The Original Factory Shop stores across the country. Modella also recently bought Hobbycraft and WHSmith's high street shops. Co-op Faces Uncertain Future: 34 Stores at Risk Amid Financial Struggles Iceland The supermarket chain will close its store on Rose Street in Inverness on July 12. There will no longer be any Iceland stores in the Scottish city, with the closest located in Aberdeen. This move will come just weeks after Iceland shut down its Margate branch. The retailer has not yet confirmed the reason for the sudden closure but it has been completing a broader reshuffle of its operations in recent months. This is part of an effort to adapt to shifting consumer habits, cost pressures, and the growing demand for convenience and online shopping. Why are retailers closing stores? RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going. However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024. End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker. It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date. This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023. It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns. The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker. Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations. Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes. Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." Poundland After a series of closures in the past few months, Poundland is set to shut down its location in Deepdale Retail Park in Preston on July 5 and another store in Newquay on July 30. Gordon Brothers, the ex-owner of Laura Ashley, purchased the business from Polish owner Pepco Group for £1 after a downturn in trading. The new owners are asking the court for permission to close 68 stores and negotiate lower rents on others. Up to 82 more stores are potentially at risk of shutting down in the future. However, before the sale was agreed, Poundland had already planned to close 18 stores, with the July shutdowns among the last to be confirmed. New Look The famous fashion retailer is set to close another location at the beginning of July. Hamilton, Scotland will see its New Look store permanently pull the shutters on July 1. The move comes after the shop announced it would be closing nearly 100 stores in the coming months. A New Look spokesperson said: 'Our store in Hamilton is set close on July 1. We would like to thank all of our colleagues and the local community for their support over the years. "We hope customers continue to shop with us online at where our full product ranges can be found.' Santander Santander is set to close 38 branches next month after announcing locations were struggling due to the increase in online banking. A statement on the Santander website reads: "We last did a major review of our branches in 2021. "Since then, many of our customers are choosing to use Mobile, Online and Telephone Banking more, and branches less." The Santander locations set to close in July are:
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Full list of 43 shops and banks vanishing from British high street forever in July – is your local closing?
MAJOR retailers and banks will close several stores for good this month as the high street continues to face difficulties. The closures come as UK businesses continue to faced increased costs alongside a decline in footfall. Changes in this year's budget, including an increase in employer National Insurance contributions and energy and rent costs have piled on pressure for companies. As a result, some retailers have been forced to make drastic changes to remain competitive. This includes hiking prices, reviewing expansion plans and reducing the number of stores they have. Here is a full list of the shops and banks we know are shutting in July 2025. The Original Factory Shop The discount high street chain closed nine shops in June after previously warning it would have to shut some 'loss-making' locations. This comes after the discount chain began to struggle in recent years. And now the retailer is now set to close its location in Staveley, Cumbria on July 12. The private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop in February and has since launched a restructuring effort. This was carried out in an effort to renegotiate rents at 88 The Original Factory Shop stores across the country. Modella also recently bought Hobbycraft and WHSmith's high street shops. Co-op Faces Uncertain Future: 34 Stores at Risk Amid Financial Struggles Iceland The supermarket chain will close its store on Rose Street in Inverness on July 12. There will no longer be any Iceland stores in the Scottish city, with the closest located in Aberdeen. This move will come just weeks after Iceland shut down its Margate branch. The retailer has not yet confirmed the reason for the sudden closure but it has been completing a broader reshuffle of its operations in recent months. This is part of an effort to adapt to shifting consumer habits, cost pressures, and the growing demand for convenience and online shopping. Why are retailers closing stores? RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going. However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024. End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker. It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date. This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023. It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns. The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker. Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations. Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes. Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." Poundland After a series of closures in the past few months, Poundland is set to shut down its location in Deepdale Retail Park in Preston on July 5 and another store in Newquay on July 30. Gordon Brothers, the ex-owner of Laura Ashley, purchased the business from Polish owner Pepco Group for £1 after a downturn in trading. The new owners are asking the court for permission to close 68 stores and negotiate lower rents on others. Up to 82 more stores are potentially at risk of shutting down in the future. However, before the sale was agreed, Poundland had already planned to close 18 stores, with the July shutdowns among the last to be confirmed. New Look The famous fashion retailer is set to close another location at the beginning of July. Hamilton, Scotland will see its New Look store permanently pull the shutters on July 1. The move comes after the shop announced it would be closing nearly 100 stores in the coming months. A New Look spokesperson said: 'Our store in Hamilton is set close on July 1. We would like to thank all of our colleagues and the local community for their support over the years. "We hope customers continue to shop with us online at where our full product ranges can be found.' Santander Santander is set to close 38 branches next month after announcing locations were struggling due to the increase in online banking. A statement on the Santander website reads: "We last did a major review of our branches in 2021. "Since then, many of our customers are choosing to use Mobile, Online and Telephone Banking more, and branches less." The Santander locations set to close in July are: Armagh July 1 Bognor Regis July 14 Borehamwood July 1 Caernarfon July 7 Camborne July 7 Colne July 14 Colwyn Bay July 24 Crowborough July 23 Cumbernauld July 7 Didsbury July 8 Exmouth July 15 Falmouth July 21 Farnham July 29 Felixstowe July 16 Hackney July 15 Hawick July 24 Herne Bay July 8 Hertford July 29 Holloway July 14 Honiton July 14 Kirkby July 22 Malvern July 2 Market Harborough July 1 New Milton July 28 Pudsey July 28 Rawtenstall July 15 Ross-On-Wye July 30 Ruislip July 7 Saltcoats July 21 Seaford July 14 Shaftesbury July 23 St Austell July 8 St Neots July 30 Stokesley July 31 Strabane July 23 Tenterden July 7 Tottenham July 8 Wishaw July 22
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
The Original Factory Shop launches 80% off closing down sales ahead of shutting NINE stores this week
We reveal why thousands of high street shops are expected to close in 2025 below SALE AWAY The Original Factory Shop launches 80% off closing down sales ahead of shutting NINE stores this week – see full list THE Original Factory Shop is shutting nine stores this week as up to 80% off closing down sales are launched at a host of locations. The fragrance, homeware and fashion retailer is pulling down the shutters on shops across the UK between Thursday and Saturday. 1 The Original Factory Shop is closing nine stores this week Credit: Alamy One branch in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, will permanently close on June 26, while eight others will shut on June 28, including stores in Pershore, Worcestershire, and Shaftesbury, Dorset. Closing down sales have been launched at a number of the soon-to-be shut shops. Prices at the Milford Haven site have been slashed by 30% with discounts on drinks, perfume and footwear. The Pershore branch has also reduced prices on beauty and pet products, jewellery and more by up to 50%. The Normanton branch has also cut prices by up to 50%, while stock at the Middlewich store is selling for up to 80% off. Here is the full list of The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) branches set to close this week, as well as three others shutting from July: Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire - June 26 - June 26 Perth - June 28 - June 28 Chester Le Street, County Durham - June 28 - June 28 Arbroath, Angus - June 28 - June 28 Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire - June 28 - June 28 Pershore, Worcestershire - June 28 - June 28 Normanton, West Yorkshire - June 28 - June 28 Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - June 28 - June 28 Shaftesbury, Dorset - June 28 - June 28 Staveley, Cumbria - July 12 - July 12 Cupar, Fife - July 27 - July 27 Middlewich, Cheshire - TBC News of the branches closing this week has not been met well by shoppers and locals. Commenting on the Abroath closure, one customer said: "Another one bites the dust on the high street. "Going to be a ghost town soon enough." Britain's retail apocalypse: why your favourite stores KEEP closing down A second, commenting on the Pershore closure, said: "End of an era that is." A third, finding out about the Cupar branch shutting, said: "So sorry to see you're closing down." What's happening with The Original Factory Shop? TOFS was bought by Modella Capital in February which has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 of the retail chain's stores. Modella, a private equity firm, is known for taking on struggling retailers, having recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith's high street shops. Modella drew up plans to initiate a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) for TOFS at the end of April. A CVA is a way of restructuring that means a business can continue trading while negotiating its debts, for example by cutting rent costs with landlords. A TOFS spokesperson previously told The Press and Journal a "number of loss-making stores will have to close" as part of the CVA. They continued: "Closing stores is always a tough decision and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible. "This is, however, dependent on successful negotiations with landlords as we strive to build a sustainable and successful business for the future." The Original Factory shop has already shuttered more than a dozen stores over the past 12 months. These are the locations that closed in 2024: Brightlingsea, Essex Bodmin, Cornwall Chepstow, Wales Fakenham, Norfolk Harwich, Essex Mildenhall, Suffolk Padiham, Lancashire Taunton, Somerset Deal, Kent Haverfordwest, Wales HIGH STREET STRUGGLES The Original Factory Shop is not the only retailer languishing across the high street. The retail sector has struggled for years, with thousands of shops closing across the UK. The Centre for Retail Research has described the sector as going through a "permacrisis" since the 2008 financial crash. In 2024 alone, more than 13,000 high street stores were shuttered for good, according to the Centre. It is also predicting the number of store closures to rise this year, blaming the increase on a hike to employer National Insurance contributions and the national minimum wage. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs would cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research published by the British Chambers of Commerce earlier this year shows that more than half of companies planned to raise prices by early April. Separately, the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Scottish Sun
21-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Hobbycraft to close NINE shops today as part of huge restructuring plan – is your local going
See the full list of stores closing below CLOSING TIME Hobbycraft to close NINE shops today as part of huge restructuring plan – is your local going Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHOPPERS are running out of time to pick up craft and art essentials from selected stores as a high street chain axes nine outlets. Hobbycraft is closing shops in towns including Bristol, Dunstable, Borehamwood and Basildon today. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Hobbycraft is closing nine shops in a blow to locals Credit: PA The high street favourite is also closing two sites in Essex, one in Gloucestershire, plus another in Kent. The stores closing their doors makeup at least nine Hobbycraft stores that have been earmarked for closure this year. Local customers have been disappointed by the news. Bristol residents describing it as a "shame" on social media. The local store is sure to be missed as another customer said they needed to find another "rainy day activity" referencing the store's numerous crafting goods. Talking about the closure, a Kent-based shopper said: "Oh noooooo it's the only one I go to regularly as the rest are too far away!". Another resident said they would "need therapy" following news of the closure. Closing down sales have been ongoing across the stores, with up to 70% off some items. Here is the full list of stores shutting Canterbury, Kent Basildon, Essex Borehamwood, Hertfordshire Bristol, Imperial Retail Park Dunstable, Bedfordshire Epping Forest, Essex Lakeside Shopping Centre, Essex Cirencester, Gloucestershire Bagshot, Surrey I transformed my boring, old fence using an electric stapler and bargain buys from Hobbycraft and Amazon The closures come as new owner Modella Capital is launching an overhaul of the chain after buying Hobbycraft in August last year. Modella also recently agreed to purchase WHSmith's high street business. The move is set to impact between 72 and 126 jobs. Retail woe Hobbycraft is not the only retailer scaling down operations. Up to 11 Original Factory Shops stores are to set to close this month, including sites across Worcestershire, Durham and Cumbria. And another five stores across Nairn, Market Drayton, Troon, Blairgowrie and Castle Douglas have been put up for sale. Private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop back in February and has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 TOFS stores. You can see the full list of store closures here: Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire - June 26 Perth - June 28 Chester Le Street, County Durham - June 28 Arbroath, Angus - June 28 Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire - June 28 Pershore, Worcestershire - June 28 Normanton, West Yorkshire - June 28 Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - June 28 Shaftesbury, Dorset - June 28 Staveley, Cumbria - July 12 Middlewich - TBC The following stores are also up for sale: Nairn Market Drayton Troon Blairgowrie Castle Douglas RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
Scottish Sun
18-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Budget retail chain to shut NINE stores this month as it launches string of closing down sales – is one going near you?
Read more to find out if you live near one of the stores RISKY BUSINESS Budget retail chain to shut NINE stores this month as it launches string of closing down sales – is one going near you? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BELOVED retail chain is shutting a whopping nine locations in a wave of closing down sales this month - and you could be living right next to one. The popular budget store has hundreds of sites across the UK - but news of the closures has sent shoppers flocking to the shutting branches for one last bargain. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A beloved UK retail chain is shutting nine locations and launching massive sales Credit: Getty The Original Factory Shop has slashed the prices on everything, from clothing to gardening tools to toys. Clothing rails have been slapped with signs offering discounts as the major retailer kicks off closing down sales. If you're after summer steals, the closing stores are bursting with bargains – from pretty dresses to handy garden gadgets. It comes as part of a major restructuring carried out by new owner Modella Capital with a number of loss making stores having to close as result. Over June nine of these stores will close, including sites in Dorest and Durham. Another site in Middlewich is also set to close however a date is yet to be confirmed. You can see the full list of store closures in June here: Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire - June 26 - June 26 Perth - June 28 - June 28 Chester Le Street, County Durham - June 28 - June 28 Arbroath, Angus - June 28 - June 28 Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire - June 28 - June 28 Pershore, Worcestershire - June 28 - June 28 Normanton, West Yorkshire - June 28 - June 28 Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - June 28 - June 28 Shaftesbury, Dorset - June 28 The following stores will close later on: Staveley, Cumbria - July 12 - July 12 Middlewich - TBC - TBC Heswall - TBC Beloved high street chain with 24 Irish locations confirms Dublin city centre store closing down in 10 days in huge blow And these stores are also up for sale: Nairn Market Drayton Troon Blairgowrie Castle Douglas Private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop back in February. It has since launched a huge restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 TOFS stores. Modella is known for picking up struggling retailers. The firm recently acquired flailing Hobbycraft, and WHSmith's high street shops. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." It is set to rebrand all WHSmith high street stores to TGJones, and has brought in advisers to look at potential options for Hobbycraft. At the end of April, Modella drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for TOFS. Companies often use CVAs to prevent insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business. They allow firms to explore different strategies such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords. TOFS previously told The Press and Journal that a "number of loss-making stores will have to close" as part of the restructuring. The Sun reached out to The Original Factory Shop for comment.
