Which company is closing up stores on the high street?
Several major UK retailers are closing high street stores in 2026, driven by rising costs and a shift to online shopping. Key companies include River Island (closing over 30 stores), Poundland (restructuring with 30+ closures), Cancer Research UK (88 shops), and TGI Fridays.
The Original Factory Shop and accessories retailer Claire's are both currently going through a process of administration, with site closures and jobs at risk. Around 1,000 people lost their jobs after Bodycare collapsed in September, while River Island will close some stores to avoid a total collapse.
Familiar brands, including River Island and Poundland, are amongst the retailers shutting outlets "for good" as they grapple with escalating expenses and evolving consumer behaviour.
Some bosses, such as the CEO of Shoezone, have also said that government tax hikes are cutting into already tight margins. Several British high-street staples have already confirmed closures for 2026. Here are the ones that have so far announced that locations will be shutting.
Chains from Kohl's and Macy's to Starbucks and Rite Aid announced widespread shutdowns this year amid tariffs, bankruptcies and shifting shopping trends. WASHINGTON — As 2025 comes to a close, the retail landscape may look noticeably smaller in some spaces compared to a year ago.
Britain's high street crisis as 12 hundred shops shut down in six months | 5 News
Which shops are closing in 2025?
Full List Of UK High Street Closures Confirmed For 2025 – M&S, Poundland, WH Smith And More Say Farewell. According to a warning from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), as many as 400 of Britain's largest shops including supermarkets and department stores with a rateable value over £500,000.
It also announced early in the company's collapse that other brands Rockmans, Crossroads, Autograph, W Lane and BeMe would be wound down. Now it says it will also close all of Millers and Noni B's remaining 252 stores.
Which fashion retailer is returning to the high street?
Topshop will return to the High Street, five years after it closed all of its UK stores. The brand is going to be available in 32 John Lewis shops from February 2026, while its menswear brand Topman will be sold in six stores.
Most recently, it was revealed that the brand would soon disappear from UK high streets, selling off branches so that it can focus on its shops in airports and train stations. Eventually all high-street WH Smiths will rebrand, but in the meantime some are closing.
Stores Closing in the U.S. in 2025: REI Co-op, Claire's, JCPenney and More Companies Facing Financial Challenges. Approximately 15,000 stores are expected to close in the U.S. this year, according to Coresight Research.
The Royal Mail (110th), BA (114th), RBS (138th) and Lloyds (136th) all have a "shockingly poor reputation among consumers", revealed the survey. Cigarette maker, British American Tobacco, has the worst corporate reputation out of 140 companies.
Over the next decade, consumers will increasingly seek more engaging shopping experiences driven by dynamic, personalized digital content that reinforces the messaging and information that customers have already seen online and on social media.
