So far this year, the British high street has been hit hard with various retailers such as Marks and Spencer, Boots and Costa Coffee announcing store closures.
Due to the cost of living crisis, Britons are spending less with some people cutting back on their spending when it comes to luxuries.
Unfortunately, tightening the purse strings is affecting the British high street with retailers also being hit with higher rents and plans for restructuring.
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research, a research foundation, found that almost 10,500 shops closed for good last year. The Centre also found that 804 stores have closed for the final time from January to May 2024.
And it seems store closures will continue into July with a total of 10 shops expected to close their doors for good.
Full list of July store closures:
Poundland
Poundland is closing two stores this month including one on Freeman Street in Grimsby despite the shop only opening seven months ago. The store will be closing for the final time today (July 2).
A spokesperson for the chain confirmed the closure and told The Sun: “We’ve been unable to secure a long-term lease that would enable us to keep trading which is disappointing.
“As you know, whenever we have to close a store, we do all we can to look for other opportunities for colleagues.”
The store closure has disappointed some local residents with many of them taking to Facebook to express their views.
Sandra Allen said: “The more shops that pull out of the area it’s just another nail in the coffin.”
Samantha Jayne added: “Wow, you know times are tough when even a Poundland can’t survive.”
Poundland will also be closing its store in Hitchin, North Hertfordshire on July 16. A spokesperson said Poundland has been unable to secure a long-term lease that would allow them to continue trading.
B&M
The discount chain is closing its shop in Gainsborough, located at 14-20 Lord Street, on July 17. However, it’s not all bad news as a new branch in the same area will be opening its doors on July 20.
According to the Mirror, the new site will be located in a former Wilko in Marshall’s Yard.
B&M announced last month it would be opening 14 new stores this summer in a welcome boost for high streets across the UK.
B&Q
The DIY and home improvement retailer will be closing its Sudbury store in Suffolk on July 20 as the lease is expiring.
The store will be closing its doors for the final time after serving the local community for more than 12 years.
A spokesman for B&Q said: “The landlord has secured planning permission to redevelop the site and to occupy the B&Q unit themselves.”
Richard Walgate, director of the central division at B&Q, previously said: “Our team of 32 B&Q colleagues have been serving the Sudbury community, helping them to improve and enjoy their homes, for over 12 years. They would very much like to continue to serve the local residents and we are continuing to look for an alternative store location in the area.
“In the meantime, we look forward to continuing to welcome our Sudbury customers to our Woodhall Business Park store, and I would like to thank our colleagues for their ongoing hard work and commitment.”
Co-op
Co-op will be closing its Stoke-on-Trent store in Meir for good on July 13. The store, located on Weston Road, is being sold and will operate as a Nisa store.
A Co-op spokesman said: “Co-op regularly reviews its stores and the decision to sell any store is only taken after careful consideration.
“Our Meir store is being sold and a key priority has been to safeguard local jobs. Colleagues, who have been informed and are being fully supported, will transfer to the new operator.
“The new store will operate as a Nisa store, meaning that Co-op favourite products will remain available locally. We would like to thank the Meir community for their support of the Co-op.”
Card Factory
Card Factory will be closing its store in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, 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.
“We look forward to continuing to serve all our Cumbernauld customers and helping them celebrate their special life moments.”
Peacocks
Peacocks will be saying a final goodbye to its store on Holywell High Street in Flintshire, Wales on July 25. A sign in the window has confirmed the closing date. The next nearest store will be in Flint Retail Park.
Local residents have voiced their disappointment on social media with one person saying, “Only lived in Holywell a few months ago but seems to be closure after closure. Would have loved to have seen it as a bustling market town. Sad times for not only Holywell but loads of other communities.”
Another resident urged Peacocks to “rethink this decision”.
The Works
The Works will be closing its store in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland for good on July 26.
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.
“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.”
Robert Dyas
Bournemouth’s Robert Dyas store at Castle Point shopping centre will be pulling down the shutters for the final time on July 20.
The store was served a notice by the landlord as they have plans to split the unit in two.
A Robert Dyas spokesperson added that Robert Dyas was “not able to mutually agree terms in bidding for one of those units”.
They continued: “We will leave that store on July 20, and continue to look for an additional and appropriate new site in the area, as it is a strong performing store for us.
“The next nearest stores in the meantime, for our loyal Robert Dyas customers, are Poole and Christchurch.”
