More than 800 stores closed in the first five months of this year alone, with more shops closing this month
The British high street has been subjected to a number of losses in recent years, with many stores that were considered favourites closing their doors for the last time. This trend accelerated in the wake of the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis, which has resulted in households cut back on their spending.
Many shops have also been hit with high rents, which when combined with lower footfall, has forced them out of business. Findings from the Centre for Retail Research show that almost 10,500 shops closed in 2023.
2024 has been no exception to these losses with multiple stores falling victim. The most recent data from the centre shows 804 stores closed and 16,565 retail jobs were lost during the first five months of the year.
Today (July 26), in the latest blow, one popular shop is due to shut for good in Northumberland. Discount retailer The Works will close its shutters in Marygate, Berwick-upon-Tweed for the final time.
Supplying gifts, arts, crafts, toys, books and stationery, The Works has been popular among shoppers around the UK for years. A spokesperson for the retailer told the Northumberland Gazette: “We can confirm that we will be closing our Berwick-upon-Tweed store on the 26th of July.
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“This has been a great location for The Works, but sadly we have been unable to agree on suitable lease terms to stay. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this closure and would like to thank customers for shopping at the store over the years.”
But this is not the only store to close in July this year. Already, eight other sites have shut up shop.
Co-op
A Stoke-on-Trent Co-op store in Weston Road, Meir permanently closed on July 13.
It is set to be replaced by a Nisa shop, with staff believed to have their jobs transferred over.
B&Q
B&Q shut its Sudbury store in Suffolk on July 20 due to the expiry of the lease.
The landlord has secured planning permission to redevelop the site and occupy the B&Q unit.
Peacocks
Fashion store Peacocks, on Holywell High Street in Flintshire, Wales, closed on July 25.
Card Factory
Card Factory closed its branch in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire in Scotland on July 20.
A Card Factory spokesperson said: “We continually review our estate of over 1,050 stores across the UK and Ireland.
“With our other Cumbernauld store just around the corner in the Antonine Shopping Centre on Forth Walk, (0.2 miles away), we have taken the decision to close our store on Teviot Street from July 20.”
Robert Dyas
Hardware retailer Robert Dyas closed its store in Castlepoint, Bournemouth on July 20.
It came after the store was served a notice by their landlord.
B&M
Discount chain B&M closed its store at 14-20 Lord Street in Gainsborough on July 17.
However, a new branch in the same area opened on July 20.
Poundland
Poundland closed two sites this month. One store in Freeman Street in Grimsby shut on July 2 having opened just eight months earlier.
The store opened just seven months ago in November and replaced a longstanding Wilko store.
Poundland also closed a store in Hitchin on July 16 after it was unable to secure a long-term lease.