Post Office closures: 21 UK sites to shut by February 2027

At least 21 Post Office sites across the UK are set to close between November and February, including one in the North East. A branch in Darlington, located inside a TG Jones store, is due to shut this month, while a site in Kingswood, Bristol, will close on November 18.

The Post Office provides mail, financial, travel and identity services at its hubs nationwide, with many counters housed in major retailers such as Tesco and TG Jones. However, a wave of shutdowns has led to branches closing this year, with at least 21 more scheduled to close by February 2027.

Franchise model under pressure

Around 99% of the UK's 11,500 branches are franchised rather than owned directly by the Post Office, meaning they rely on host retailers, independent convenience stores and subpostmasters to house them. Official consultation records show that 161 branches are currently under review or facing significant changes nationwide.

Some closures are part of TG Jones' wider restructuring programme, which is expected to result in up to 150 of its approximately 450 stores closing. While Post Office Ltd has stated it is actively seeking replacement operators and reviewing expressions of interest, establishing new franchise partners often takes upwards of six months.

Campaigners warn of service gaps

Campaigners warn that with bank branches continuing to vanish at record rates, the Post Office remains the last remaining physical option for cash deposits, parcel delivery and face-to-face bill payments in many UK towns.

Separately, several Lloyds and Halifax bank branches are shutting in November, continuing a trend of bank closures as more people move towards online banking. According to Lloyds Banking Group, it currently has over 10 million app users, and customers of Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland can access services in one place. The group said Community Bankers sometimes visit areas where branches are closed to provide support. A Lloyds site in Wallsend, North Tyneside, has already closed this month.