Thirty-one high street branches are set to close across the UK this autumn, affecting well-known names including TG Jones, River Island, Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Royal Bank of Scotland. The closures come as retailers and banks continue to adjust to rising costs, business rates, and changing consumer habits.
TG Jones Closing-Down Sales
TG Jones, the rebranded WHSmith high street arm, has launched a closing-down sale at its Inverness branch in Scotland, though the final closing date has yet to be confirmed. Its Swindon store is scheduled to shut on September 14, with the Southend-on-Sea branch closing on September 26.
The WHSmith high street arm was sold last year and rebranded as TG Jones in a £76 million shake-up to try to save the business. Trading has reportedly been poor. Owner Modella Capital gained approval for a company-wide restructure on July 1, with up to 150 stores thought to be at risk of closure.
River Island's September Shutdowns
River Island, which operates around 200 shops nationwide, is preparing to close its Sheffield city centre store at 15 The Moor on September 1, with selected items reduced by 30% ahead of the closure. The brand's Oxford Street store in Swansea is also due to close on September 12.
The closures come a year after River Island secured High Court approval for a major reorganisation plan. The brand suffered a pre-tax loss of £32.3 million last year and has already closed over 30 stores this year.
Lloyds Banking Group Branch Closures
Lloyds Banking Group has revealed a fresh wave of closures across its Lloyds, Halifax, and Royal Bank of Scotland branches. Additionally, 200 Halifax locations are set to be converted into Lloyds branches in 2027 as part of a wider brand consolidation drive. The September closures follow Halifax shutting 25 branches in June.
The banking giant stated that decisions regarding the future of its branches are "based on a range of factors, including how customers are choosing to bank and the availability of nearby services." The full list includes TG Jones branches in Inverness, Swindon, and Southend-on-Sea; River Island stores in Sheffield and Swansea; Halifax locations from Horsham to High Wycombe; Lloyds branches in Birmingham, London, Harrow, Chelmsford, and Carlisle; and RBS sites in Milngavie, Arbroath, Castle Douglas, Motherwell, Biggar, and Glasgow.
