Popular high street stores including Poundland, River Island, and Marks & Spencer are set to close branches across the UK this month. Rising energy bills, rents, and National Insurance contributions, alongside increased online shopping, are blamed for the wave of closures. The Centre for Retail Research forecasts 17,349 shops could shut this year, with 201,953 retail job losses.
Poundland, acquired by Gordon Brothers, will close its Whitby branch on September 3, Wealdstone on September 6, Pontypool on September 7, and Irvine on September 14. The Original Factory Shop will shutter its Chard store on September 7 and Market Drayton on September 20, with further closures planned later in the year.
Marks & Spencer will close its flagship Wolverhampton store on Dudley Street on September 27, part of a strategy to focus on food-only branches. Bonmarché will close its Scarborough outlet on September 14 due to redevelopment, while New Look will shut its Scarborough branch on September 5.
GAME is closing its Gateshead store on September 7, Bristol on September 25, and Chatham before month-end. Hobbycraft will shut six outlets in September across Stafford, Wigan, Maidenhead, King's Lynn, Chichester, and Crayford. River Island will close its Edinburgh store on September 5, with 33 more closures planned for January 2026.
