Store closures recap: Shoppers 'gutted' as The Works, Argos and Boots close shops in March
Britons could see some big changes to their local high street as retailers prepare to close dozens of stores this month.
Pharmacies, supermarkets, pubs, and craft brands are among the major retailers that will close stores across the UK this March.
The month will see a flurry of stores axed from British high streets weekly starting from last week.
At least four popular retailers have confirmed the loss of select locations across the country including Lidl, Boots, Costa Coffee and Argos.
Marks and Spencer, WHSmith, House of Fraser and The Body Shop could follow suit with some branches earmarked for closure this year.
Recent figures from the Centre for Retail Research discovered that several factors are to blame for the ongoing retail "crisis", which has caused mass job losses as a result.
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KEY EVENTS
- Discount craft retailer to close another branch10:02
- Papa Johns to close 50 takeaways in the UK later this year18:00
- Wetherspoons pubs to close in weeks13:40
- L'Occitane En Provence confirms store closure10:43
- Boots to axe two more pharmacies10:40
- Widespread store closures continue10:19
- Costa Coffee to lose another site today 15:02
- Boots to close one more pharmacy today 09:15
- The Body Shop confirms which stores will close next month 16:02
- Costa to open new cafes after months of closures14:13
- Costa Coffee announces more closures10:55
- Argos to close one store today 09:41
- Marks and Spencer store informed of closure14:03
- Lidl closes long-standing town centre store10:11
- Cornwall residents to lose Boots pharmacy today09:09
Major department store to close
House of Fraser has 28 stores nationwide and will soon close one of them down.
The retail giant is pulling down the shutters on its city centre branch in Carlisle after closing various other sites over the past few months.
It comes after signs advertising a huge 20 percent off closing down sale across the entire shop were spotted in its windows.
Shoppers will be able to get their fix of big brands like Calvin Klein, Superdry, Paul Smith and Ted Baker in-store until the end of May.
Oxfam to close bookstore next month
An Oxfam bookstore in Bishop's Stortford, East Hertfordshire will be closing its doors in April.
A local councillor said on Facebook: "It's always sad to see shops close in the High Street (Oxfam bookstore closing in April - well in this case North Street)."
However, it's not all bad news. The books will be moved to their store on South Street which is larger.
An Oxfam spokesperson said: “We are regretfully shutting the Oxfam bookshop on North Street, mainly due to the fact that the area is no longer a retail destination.
"We thank everyone for their custom over the years. We are however moving our books into our other Oxfam shop in Bishop’s Stortford, on South Street, which is a larger store and in a busier retail area.
"We will also be creating a dedicated music area in the South Street store. The bookshop store manager and most of our brilliant team of volunteers will also be moving to the South Street store.”
Sainsbury's spokesperson confirms city centre branch closure
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson told The Sun: “Last week we shared the difficult news with colleagues at our York Foss Bank supermarket that the store will close next year.
“We have announced to colleagues that the supermarket will close at the expiry of our lease in January 2025.
“We have been in discussion with the landlord and having reviewed all options carefully, we understand our landlord is looking at regeneration and development of this site. We will therefore be vacating the store when our lease comes to an end.
“We understand this will be an unsettling time for everyone this affects and we are committed to doing everything we can to support them, including offering opportunities for our colleagues to redeploy to alternative roles within Sainsbury’s.
“We intend to transfer the store’s groceries online department to our nearby Monks Cross supermarket, enabling us to transfer the jobs it supports along with it as well as offer customers greater choice when shopping online.”
Sainsbury's confirms closure of city centre superstore
Major supermarket Sainsbury's has announced it will be closing its superstore in York early next year.
The store in Foss Bank will close in January 2025 because the lease is expiring.
Shoppers will have to head to the Monks Cross branch to do their weekly shop.
The Works customers ‘gutted’ by store closure
Loyal customers who frequent the Caernarfon branch have shared that they are "gutted" to learn of the closure.
Many shared concerns that their town would become "deserted" as a result.
One person said: "Gutted to hear that The Works in Caernarfon is being closed down! Its concept caters for all ages! Why are so many of our shops closing down? It’s becoming a ghost town."
The Works still has more than 550 stores nationwide.
Discount craft retailer to close another branch
The Works has been a pillar on British high streets for more than 40 years but has decided to close several stores as of late.
In a new wave of closures, the craft retailer is expected to lose its branch in Caernarfon, Wales on March 17.
Despite the prospect of job losses, the chain reassured that their workers would be relocated to stores in Bangor and Llandudno following the closure.
A spokesperson for The Works said: “We can confirm that we will be closing our store in Caernarfon on 17th March. We have loved being part of the local community and apologise for any inconvenience caused by this closure.”
Game to close branch for good in March
Game has confirmed it will be closing down its branch in Grimsby for good this month.
However, the exact closing date is yet to be confirmed, according to reports.
Three branches closed last year in Plymouth, Cambridge and Newport, Wales.
The Newport branch later reopened nearby in a former Sports Direct unit.
Papa Johns spokesperson confirms store closures
A spokesperson for the group said: “As our second largest global market, Papa Johns remains committed to driving growth in the UK.
“As mentioned in January, we are undertaking a comprehensive review of our UK-based restaurants to assess viability.
“Based on our current analysis, we are planning to close approximately 50 underperforming corporate-owned locations.
“The strategic closure of these restaurants would give us the opportunity to invest back into the right locations with the right partners; optimising the brand for long-term growth.”
Papa Johns already said goodbye to 22 branches in 2023.
Papa Johns to close 50 takeaways in the UK later this year
Pizza chain Papa Johns said it plans to close around 50 takeaway restaurants in the UK that are not performing as well as other locations.
Papa Johns has not yet released a list with the locations. An insider reportedly stated, "it’s important to note that no final decisions have been made at this time".
The company has 450 restaurants in the UK.
Sports Direct to close branch by the end of March
A Sports Direct store in Stroud, Gloucestershire, will be closing for good at the end of this month.
The branch reportedly has 20 percent off sale signs on the storefront windows.
However, it's not all bad news as the store is relocating. The store is moving to the Five Valleys Shopping Centre and will re-open on April 1.
Sports Direct said the new branch will be bigger and have a larger variety of sporting goods.
JD Wetherspoons closing in March
The three "spoons" pubs confirmed to close are:
The White Hart, Todmorden - March 15
The Sir Norman Rae, Shipley - March 24
Wetherspoons is also set to close The Holland Tringham in Streatham, London, on March 10, though this is only temporary.
Wetherspoons pubs to close in weeks
JD Wetherspoons owner Tim Martin has 827 pubs across the UK though some will soon disappear from the chain's estate.
In the tail-end of 2023, 11 sites were earmarked for closure but some managed to stay open. That is, until now.
Three Wetherspoons pubs are expected to close this March, including two in West Yorkshire.
L'Occitane En Provence confirms store closure
Cosmetics giant L'Occitane En Provence is closing its store in Hereford's Old Market after a decade of trade.
Staff have confirmed that the branch will no longer be open to customers from Saturday, March 9.
The high end store opened as part of the debut of the shopping centre in 2014.
Many shoppers have been left disappointed by the news of the closures, which follows a wave of stores shutting at the Old Market.
It’s not all bad news though as L'Occitane fans can find the brand elsewhere at one of their 60 branches across the UK.
Welwyn Garden City pharmacy to be ‘missed’ by locals
Customers who frequent the 126 Peartree Lane Boots store have been advised to head to the site in Cole Green Lane to pick up prescriptions from March 9 onwards.
According to the local publication the Welwyn Hatfield Times, the decision has been met with disappointment from residents, with many describing it as a "shame".
"What a shame. They always do repeat prescriptions correctly and on time," said one resident.
Another added: "Peartree staff are always helpful and friendly. The store will be missed.”
Boots to axe two more pharmacies
The pharmacy giant will see two of its standalone stores cease trading this weekend.
Customers who access services at Peartree Lane, Welwyn Garden City will no longer be able to access the Boots pharmacy from Saturday, March 9.
Meanwhile, Britons close to the branch on East Parade in Heworth, York will see it close for good on the same day.
Widespread store closures continue
High streets across the UK bid farewell to a handful of stores last week.
Lidl axed two supermarkets from its portfolio while Costa Coffee lost one of its popular city cafes.
In the South West of England, Cornwall residents saw another Boots pharmacy close down for good.
Argos followed suit by closing its Overgate Shopping Centre site, meanwhile, Marks and Spencer employees in Northumberland were informed of the imminent closure of the Hexham branch.
This week will see more sites cease trading across health, beauty and supermarket retailers.
Costa Coffee fans share their concern on social media
"Costa Coffee seem to be closing a lot of shops at the moment," said one fan.
Costa Coffee seem to be closing a lot of shops at the moment...
\u2014 Elke Weissmann who reads (@TellyElk) March 2, 2024
Costa Coffee to lose another site today
Costa Coffee is set to bid farewell to yet another shop, after at least 12 branches closed last year.
The coffee shop on Erdington High Street, Birmingham, will close its doors on Sunday, March 3.
Full list of Boots closing in 2024
- Colwyn Bay (Apr 6)
- Caerleon Road, Newport (closing in 2024)
- Chepstow Road, Newport (closing in 2024)
- Carlyon Road, St Austell, Cornwall (closing in 2024)
- St Blazey, Cornwall (closing in 2024)
- Front Street, Prudhoe (closing in 2024)
- Lurgan (closing in 2024)
- Chard Road, Plymouth (closing in 2024)
- Mannamead Road, Plymouth (closing in 2024)
- Claremont Street, Plymouth (closing in 2024)
- Gestridge Road, Teignbridge (closing in 2024)
- Portland Walk, Barrow (closing in 2024)
Full list of Boots closing in March
At least eight pharmacies are expected to disappear from high streets in March.
Boots pharmacies closing down in March
- Pool, Redruth, Cornwall - March 1
- North Kenton, Newcastle - March 3
- Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield - March 9
- East Parade, Heworth, York - March 9
- Sprowston, Norwich - March 16
- Castlecroft, Wolverhampton - March 21
- Rainham, Kent - March 30
- Bradmore, Wolverhampton - date to be confirmed
Boots to close one more pharmacy today
Boots announced plans to reduce its stores across the UK from 2,200 to 1,900 last year and has shut down dozens of pharmacies since.
The pharmacy giant is permanently closing the branch in North Kenton, Newcastle, on March 3.
This comes after the Boots in Pool, Redruth, Cornwall, closed its doors on March 1.
Full list of The Body Shop stores closing down
The full list of The Body Shop stores closing across the UK can be found here.
The Body Shop confirms which stores will close next month
A total of 75 The Body Shop stores will be closing within the next six weeks after the chain collapsed into administration earlier this month.
However, 116 The Body Shop branches will remain open, including the stores in Basingstoke and Brent Cross.
As a result of the planned store closures, 489 staff will be made redundant.
Costa to open new cafes after months of closures
Costa Coffee has announced it will open 11 new cafes after months of closures.
In collaboration with Sainsbury's, Costa will invest £3million generating more than 100 jobs.
Nick Ridley, property director at Costa Coffee, said: "We are excited to join forces with Sainsbury’s, bringing our much-loved Costa Coffee experiences to shoppers nationwide.
"We’re proud that we will soon be able to make a difference to customers looking to catch up with friends and family over lunch or enjoy a beloved Costa coffee after their weekly shop."
Costa Coffee has shut down four branches this year
Costa Coffee already bid farewell to the site on Chiswick High Road, London, Packhorse Road, Buckinghamshire, King Street, Maidstone, and Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh.
A spokesperson for Costa Coffee commented: “We can confirm that our Costa Coffee store on Bruntsfield Place closed its doors for trade on February 14, 2024.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Customers can continue to enjoy their favourite Costa Coffee at our nearby store on Morningside Road.”
Costa Coffee announces more closures
The Costa Coffee on Erdington High Street, Birmingham, will close on Sunday, March 3.
The news comes after Costa announced the company is focusing on the expansion of drive-thru sites this year.
At least a dozen cafes closed down in 2023, however, almost every location had an alternative branch nearby.
Full list of Argos stores closing this month
Argos has closed a total of 45 branches in the last year.
Argos branches closing in March:
- Overgate, Dundee, closing on Saturday, March 2
- Kingstown, Carlisle, closing in March
Argos to close one store today
Argos will be permanently closing its store at the Overgate Shopping Centre, in Dundee, on Saturday, March 2.
However, shoppers will be able to visit Argos' new store located in Broughty Ferry from Sunday, March 3.
Currys closes branch for good today
Electrical retailer Currys has pulled the shutters down for good on its Weymouth branch today [March 1].
Locals will have to travel to Currys branches in Dorchester or Poole for their electrical goods.
A spokesperson for Currys previously told The Sun: "We can confirm that our Weymouth store will be closing on March 1 as the lease comes to an end.
"Colleagues impacted have been made aware of this decision and will be redeployed to local stores such as Dorchester or Poole if they wish.
"We will also support them if they choose to move to another business.”
Frasers Group spokesperson comments on Carlisle store closure
A spokesperson for Frasers Group said: "House of Fraser Carlisle will be closing in spring.
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff for their hard work and dedication. Where possible, we are committed to finding new roles within the Group for staff."
House of Fraser to close another branch
House of Fraser will be closing its branch in Carlisle city centre by the end of May.
Signs have been spotted on the store's windows advertising a 20 percent off closing down sale.
The popular department store includes huge brands like Calvin Klein, Paul Smith and Superdry.
The department store, which has 28 branches, has closed various sites over the past few months.
House of Fraser at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Grays, Essex, closed its doors in January.
Marks and Spencer store informed of closure
M&S has confirmed the loss of yet another branch following a wave of closures.
The high street giant informed staff at the Hexham shop in Northumberland of the closures earlier this week, though an exact date is yet to be announced.
It comes after the retail giant announced plans to close its branches in Sunderland and Aberdeen earlier this year.
Carlisle locals to lose Argos Extra store
North Cumbria residents will bid farewell to the Kingstown Argos Extra store later this month, with an exact date yet to be determined.
As reported by the News and Star, a spokesperson from Argos said: “We are currently talking to our colleagues in our Carlisle Argos store, which we have made the difficult decision to close.
“We understand this will be an unsettling time for those affected and we are supporting them in every way we can, including exploring opportunities for colleagues to redeploy within Argos and Sainsbury’s.”
Overgate Argos closing down in days
The retailer is leaving the Overgate Shopping Centre after more than two decades.
Centre manager Malcolm Angus confirmed in December 2023 that Argos had taken the decision not to renew its lease for the site.
Signs have since been put up inside the outlet to confirm its last day of trading will be Saturday, March 2.
Shoppers have been advised to use the Argos outlet inside the Sainsbury’s store near Broughty Ferry from Sunday, March 3.
Argos joins retailers in March closures
The long-standing brand has closed 45 stores over the last 12 months while also opening up 25 locations inside Sainsbury’s stores.
Sainsbury's expects to have 160 standalone stores and between 430 and 460 Argos counters inside its supermarkets by March 2024.
As the deadline looms, the retailer has confirmed the loss of two independent Argos sites in Overgate, Dundee and Kingstown, Carlisle.
Full list of Costa closures
The well-known coffee chain has closed almost half a dozen cafes already this year following months of closures in 2023.
Costa branches that have closed in 2024:
Packhorse Road, Buckinghamshire - January 10
King Street, Maidstone, Kent - January 20
Chiswick High Road, London - February 6
Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh - February 14
Those seeking their caffeine fix elsewhere should be reassured that all of the stores do have alternative Costa stores nearby, which can be found using the locator tool on the chain's website.
Costa Coffee fans bid farewell to another cafe
The iconic high street cafe chain will close another site after reviewing its store estate.
Costa Coffee on Erdington High Street, Birmingham, will cease trading this weekend after five years of welcoming customers.
A spokeswoman for Costa Coffee said: “Our Costa Coffee store on Erdington High Street will close its doors for trade on March 3. Our talented team will be redeployed to nearby Costa Coffee’s in the local area."
Customers can continue to enjoy their favourite Costa coffee at the Drive Thru store which recently opened on Kingsbury Road, Erdington.
According to Birmingham Live, Birmingham City Council’s planning committee is expected to determine the application for a new Drive Thru site soon.
Lidl to close 26-year-old store today
In another crushing blow to shoppers, Lidl has axed one of its Bristol sites today.
Those who frequent the store on High Street, Hanham, Bristol will see that the shop remains closed today, Friday, March 1.
The supermarket was one of few in the South Gloucestershire suburb of Hanham and has been a staple on the high street since 1998.
Shoppers have been advised to visit other Lidl stores in Kingswood, Longwell Green and Lawrence Hill.
Thornaby local brands Lidl closure a ‘huge blow to the town’
As a staple in the town centre, the loss of the Thornaby Lidl store has sparked upset among locals.
One woman took to X, formerly Twitter to say: “This is a huge blow to the town, the staff especially a gentleman called John are incredible. We shop there weekly and it’s going to be a big miss to the town.”
Lidl closes long-standing town centre store
The budget supermarket has bid farewell to six branches in England already this year.
Shoppers who frequented the store in Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees will no longer be able to visit after it closed down yesterday, February 29.
Its central location in the town’s Pavilion Shopping Centre has been popular among locals since its opening more than 10 years ago.
No reason was given for the closure of the Thornaby supermarket, however, a spokesperson noted how the high street staple had opened two new stores in the Stockton region in the last three years - one in Norton and another on Tower Street in Stockton town centre.
More pharmacy customers react to closures
Another person replied to a Tweet from Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak after he promoted an NHS campaign which encouraged the public to visit a pharmacist before seeing a GP for some prescription medicines.
The X user wrote: “I have a Boots pharmacy within walking distance of my house. This pharmacy, which is attached to a GP surgery, is closing at the end of March. I can’t get to see a GP and from the end of March our local pharmacy will no longer exist. Great.”
I have a Boots pharmacy within walking distance of my house. This pharmacy, which is attached to a GP surgery, is closing at the end of March. I can\u2019t get to see a GP and from the end of March our local pharmacy will no longer exist. Great.
\u2014 Mara (@moolou27) February 19, 2024
Pharmacy customers react to closures
Boots shoppers have taken to social media to express their frustration with the ongoing pharmacy closures.
One person took to X, formerly Twitter to say: “Boots seem to be closing a lot of their Pharmacies, shocked to find a boots pharmacy shut that is attached to our doctor surgery in Norwich… always full of people, always. So why?”
Boots seem to be closing a lot of their Pharmacies, shocked to find a boots pharmacy shut that is attached to our Doctors surgery in Norwich \u2026.
\u2014 Andy (@orileyuk1) February 21, 2024
All ways full of people, always .
So WHY ? ? ?
More pharmacies to be axed in days
It’s not just South West England that will feel the brunt of Boots closures.
Pharmacy customers elsewhere in the UK are also at risk of losing their local branch in the coming days.
Those that utilise Boots pharmacy services in North Kenton, Newcastle will be next to lose their local when it closes for good on Sunday, March 3.
Later next week, branches in Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Heworth, York will also lock their doors for one last time.
Both sites on Peartree Lane and East Parade will go on Saturday, March 9.
Cornwall residents to lose Boots pharmacy today
The health and beauty giant will axe almost a dozen stores from its portfolio this month in a new wave of closures.
From today, Boots customers local to the chain pharmacy in Pool, Redruth, Cornwall will no longer be able to access its services.
It comes as part of plans by the company to streamline its estate and remove standalone pharmacies when there are existing stores nearby.
Good morning
Good morning from London. I'm Phoebe, I'll be bringing you all the latest developments on store closures. Please get in touch with me if you have a story. Your thoughts are always welcome.