Debenhams is the former retailer Britons most want to see return to the high street, drawing 415,000 average monthly online searches, according to new research by Liquidation Centre. The study analysed online search data to identify the brands attracting the most interest based on average monthly UK searches.
Debenhams and Dorothy Perkins Lead the List
Boohoo bought the Debenhams brand and its website in 2021, but did not buy its high street stores, which eventually closed. Boohoo has since changed its name to Debenhams, reviving the 247-year-old brand, though physical stores are not expected to return, as the chief executive described it as "Britain's online department store".
Dorothy Perkins ranks second, with 40,000 average monthly UK searches. The brand was acquired by Boohoo group in 2021, excluding its physical stores, following the collapse of former owner Arcadia Group, which fell into administration in 2020. All Arcadia brands were sold to online retailers including ASOS and Boohoo in 2021.
Thorntons, Cath Kidston and Woolworths
Thorntons took third place in 2026 with 24,000 monthly searches, up from fifth in the 2025 study. The retailer saw declining profits after COVID-19 and shifts to online demand, leading to the permanent closure of its stores in March 2021. Cath Kidston ranks joint third with 24,000 monthly searches, after repeated administrations in 2020 and 2023. Next purchased the brand and intellectual property in March 2023 but closed all remaining physical stores.
Woolworths stores closed between December 2008 and January 2009 after the company entered administration with £385m of debt, resulting in over 27,000 job losses. Its 815 locations were sold to brands including Poundland, Iceland, and B&M.
Richard Hunt, director at Liquidation Centre, commented on the struggles of these retailers, citing factors such as failure to adapt to online shopping, high fixed costs, and the financial impact of Brexit and the pandemic. The research comes as Poundland is currently racing to find a buyer to avoid administration.
