Co-Op Closes Minehead Store After 42 Years, Post Office Shuts Too

The Co-Op store in Minehead, Somerset, which opened in 1984, has closed permanently. The attached Post Office also shut, leaving locals without a nearby mail service.

Brit Brief 14/06/2026 20:12

Co-Op Closes Minehead Store After 42 Years, Post Office Shuts Too — Co-Op Closes Minehead Store After 42 Years

A major UK supermarket with 2,500 stores has closed a branch that had been operating since 1984. The Co-Op store in The Avenue, Minehead, Somerset, shut its doors for good on June 13, 2026. The closure comes just weeks after the chain announced expansion plans for 2026.

Store History and Impact

The Co-Op first opened on the former site of the Minehead Bus Station in 1984. It was a key location for local residents to buy food and household items, and also housed the only Post Office in the area. The Post Office closed on June 9, 2026, leaving the community without a mail service.

A spokesperson for the Co-Op told the West Somerset Free Press that the closure was due to a failed planning application. Minehead and Tiverton MP Rachel Gilmour described the closures as “devastating”. Social media users expressed sadness, calling the decision “so sad” and “such a shame”.

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Nearest Alternative

The nearest Co-Op to Minehead is now in Alcombe, just over a mile away. The company has plans to expand, pending approval, which could see hundreds of new food and funeral shops open nationwide.