Shoppers are facing more changes to their local high streets as major chains shut stores and Lloyds Bank prepares to close another wave of branches. Co-op has ditched its standalone On the Go micro-stores just a year after launching the concept. Holland & Barrett has also closed a shop in South Gloucestershire, while B&M has confirmed a Liverpool branch will shut on November 6.
The closures extend beyond big retailers. A family-run café in Surrey has also ended more than four decades of trading after a drop in visitors left it without the summer income needed to get through winter.
Co-op ends standalone On the Go stores
Co-op has closed all of its standalone On the Go micro-stores after reviewing whether the format was viable in the long term. The small takeaway shops were designed for busy commuters, with a menu including hot pizzas, breakfast boxes and deli meals. The first opened in Solihull, followed by locations including Kingston upon Thames, Altrincham and Chelmsford.
The venture lasted just a year. Its closure brings an end to plans for hundreds of the takeaway hubs across the UK by 2028. The shutdown concerns the standalone On the Go format, rather than Co-op's wider supermarket and convenience store network.
The store closures are as follows:
- Altrincham
- Chelmsford
- Solihull
- Aylesbury
- Kingston upon Thames
Holland & Barrett shuts Thornbury branch
Holland & Barrett has permanently closed its shop in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, as part of an ongoing restructuring programme. The health food retailer operates more than 700 UK branches. The Thornbury closure follows others in locations including Kent, Bournemouth, Alton and Dereham.
Residents have voiced disappointment at the loss of the shop and concerns about another empty unit in the market town. A spokesperson said the decision formed part of a wider £70million investment plan to transform the retailer's store network nationwide.
B&M confirms Liverpool closure date
B&M's 20,000-square-foot shop on County Road in Walton, Liverpool, will close permanently on November 6. The discount chain has confirmed there will be no job losses as a result of the closure. Every affected employee is being offered an alternative role at another store in the region.
Those locations include Liverpool city centre, Bootle and Birkenhead, meaning staff are being offered the chance to remain with the business rather than face redundancy.
Lloyds plans 23 October branch closures
Lloyds Bank is preparing to shut 23 branches during October, with a further 10 closures planned for November. Among the October sites is its Knowle branch in Bristol, at 284 Wells Road, BS4 2PY, which is scheduled to close on October 14.
The lender has attributed the decisions to changing customer habits and the growth of mobile banking, saying these shifts have made physical branches unviable. Lloyds said customers would still be able to carry out day-to-day transactions at local Post Office and PayPoint locations. Customers needing a particular service should check what is available before travelling, rather than assume these outlets offer everything a bank branch does.
The branches closing are as follows:
October 1
- Rochdale – 58 Yorkshire Street, OL16 1JP
October 5
- Barnsley – 50 Cheapside, S70 1RU
- Chatham – 142-146 High Street, ME4 4DQ
October 7
- Camborne – Market Square, TR14 8JT
- Chepstow – 7 Manor Way, NP16 5HZ
- Ryde – 35 Union Street, PO33 2LH
October 8
- Birmingham, Harborne – 125 High Street, B17 9NP
- Deal – 2 High Street, CT14 7AD
October 12
- Gorseinon – 113 High Street, SA4 4BR
- South Shields – 101 King Street, NE33 1DT
- Totton – 30 Commercial Road, SO40 3TH
October 13
- Blackpool – 30 Corporation Street, FY1 1EN
- Stamford – 65 High Street, PE9 2AT
October 14
- Bristol, Knowle – 284 Wells Road, BS4 2PY
October 15
- Rotherham – 9 Wellgate, S60 2LU
- St Helens – 13-15 Hardshaw Street, WA10 1QZ
October 21
- Devizes – 38 Market Place, SN10 1JD
- Petersfield – 5 The Square, GU32 3HL
- Widnes – 23-24 Albert Square, WA8 6JW
October 22
- Chesterfield – 30 Rose Hill, S40 1LR
October 27
- Nottingham, Arnold – 76 Front Street, NG5 7EJ
October 28
- Llandudno – 22 Mostyn Street, LL30 2RU
October 29
- Braintree – 2-4 Bank Street, CM7 1UN
Surrey café closes after more than 40 years
Frensham snack bar, a family-run café at Frensham Great Pond and Common near Farnham, has permanently closed after more than 40 years. Toxic algae blooms caused visitor numbers to fall, depriving the business of the vital summer trade it relied on to sustain it through the quieter winter months.
Owner Samantha Jones described the closure as a crushing blow to the community. The café had been a longstanding meeting place and lifeline for regular visitors, including elderly residents.
