This week has seen a wave of closures across the UK high street, with several well-known British brands shutting their doors amid rising costs and economic uncertainty. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has reported that retailers face a "£5.6 billion wave of additional costs" across 2025 and 2026, driven by reductions in rates relief, higher wages, new packaging levies, and an increase in property values from April 2026. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also warned that the economic fallout from the Iran war will persist.
Claire's
Claire's, the accessories retailer, closed all 154 of its UK stores this week, resulting in around 1,300 redundancies. Administrators at Kroll announced the closures, though the company's 356 concessions, including those in Asda stores, and its head office remain unaffected. Reports suggest Claire's may reopen four to ten stores per week from June onwards. This follows a previous administration last year that saw 145 stores close and about 1,000 job losses.
Russell & Bromley
The British shoe shop chain Russell & Bromley has closed its remaining 33 stores and nine concessions after a transaction with Next did not cover these sites. The last store closed on April 23, following an initial announcement of 10 closures on April 21. The retailer, founded in 1880, employed 320 people before the closures. Administrators Interpath confirmed that all non-transferring stores have shut, resulting in the majority of employees being made redundant. They are providing support and assisting with claims to the redundancy payments service.
LK Bennett
Luxury fashion brand LK Bennett has closed nine stores after entering administration, with stock selling out faster than anticipated. The remaining 13 concessions are expected to close soon. The brand filed for administration in January after failing to secure a buyer, affecting around 90 jobs. LK Bennett, a favourite of Princess Kate and Queen Camilla, was purchased out of administration by Gordon Brothers' brand management division, which acquired the brand and its intellectual property. Nimit Shah, Gordon Brothers' managing director for EMEA, stated the brand is capable of reinvigoration under a new asset-light model.
Ark Pet Centres
The pet store chain, with outlets across South and East Devon including Plymouth, Exeter, and Torbay, announced the immediate closure of all its branches on April 23. A spokesperson expressed regret, citing 30 years of trading and the inability to sustain increasing pressure and rising costs. They thanked their team and loyal customers, emphasizing their mission to provide trusted pet care advice rather than being a typical pet shop.
