Co-op has shut all of its standalone “On the Go” micro-stores, ending the grab-and-go concept just one year after its launch. The retail giant opened its first site in Solihull last summer before expanding to Kingston upon Thames, Altrincham and Chelmsford, offering hot pizzas, breakfast boxes and deli meals aimed at busy commuters.
Co-op axes On The Go stores
Following a review of their long-term viability, all standalone sites were quietly closed last month. The move scraps Co-op’s strategy to roll out hundreds of these takeaway hubs across the UK by 2028.
The full list of closed Co-op On The Go stores includes Altrincham, Chelmsford, Solihull, Aylesbury and Kingston upon Thames.
Holland and Barrett and B&M closures
Holland & Barrett has permanently shut its store in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire. The health food chain, which operates over 700 branches across the UK, closed the site as part of an ongoing nationwide restructuring, joining recent closures in Kent, Bournemouth, Alton and Dereham.
Local residents said the closure leaves another unit empty as high streets fight for survival. A spokesperson for Holland & Barrett said the shutdown is part of a broader £70 million investment plan to transform its store network.
B&M is closing a 20,000-square-foot store in Liverpool before the end of the year. The branch on County Road in Walton will shut for the final time on November 6. Company bosses confirmed no jobs will be lost, with affected staff offered alternative employment at nearby locations including Liverpool city centre, Bootle and Birkenhead.
Lloyds Bank branch closures
Lloyds Bank is closing 23 branches in October, with a further 10 closures pushed into November. The bank said shifting consumer habits and a surge in mobile banking have made physical sites unsustainable. Customers can still carry out everyday transactions at local Post Office and PayPoint branches.
Branches scheduled to close in October include Rochdale (October 1), Barnsley and Chatham (October 5), Camborne, Chepstow and Ryde (October 7), Birmingham Harborne and Deal (October 8), Gorseinon, South Shields and Totton (October 12), Blackpool and Stamford (October 13), Bristol Knowle (October 14), Rotherham and St Helens (October 15), Devizes, Petersfield and Widnes (October 21), Chesterfield (October 22), Nottingham Arnold (October 27), Llandudno (October 28) and Braintree (October 29).
Separately, a family-run café at Frensham Great Pond and Common near Farnham has closed after more than 40 years. The site permanently closed after toxic algae blooms in the pond reduced visitor numbers, stripping the business of crucial summer trade. Owner Samantha Jones said the closure is a devastating blow for the community, where the café served as a vital lifeline for regular visitors and elderly residents.
