The Post Office is set to close at least 21 branches across England, Wales and Scotland by February 2027, with communities asking 'What are we going to do?'
Several Post Office branches are closing imminently. The Post Office provides postal, financial, travel and identity services through its network of hubs across the UK, with numerous counters situated within major retailers such as Tesco and TG Jones. However, a succession of closures has resulted in branches shutting their doors this year, with at least 21 more set to close by February 2027.
Franchise model and current closures
A remarkable 99 per cent of the UK's 11,500 branches operate as franchises rather than being directly owned by the Post Office, meaning they depend on host retailers, independent convenience stores and subpostmasters to accommodate them. Official consultation records reveal that 161 branches are presently under review or facing substantial changes across the country. Of these, at least 21 have confirmed closure dates, including Kingswood, Bristol, which will shut on November 18.
The current wave of planned closures affects important branches throughout England, Wales, and Scotland, reports the Express.
Rural and urban impact
Rural areas face the prospect of losing all local access to Post Office services, while larger commercial centres are shutting their main high-street locations but maintaining smaller neighbourhood branches.
In Greatworth, Northamptonshire and Inchture, Perthshire, the rural villages are set to lose their only local branch, leaving residents without counter services within the settlement and forcing them to travel to neighbouring parishes. Swansea is set to lose its flagship city centre branch inside The Quadrant Shopping Centre, though several suburban and neighbourhood branches will continue to serve the wider city.
A spokesperson told WalesOnline: "TG Jones had its restructuring plan approved by the High Court on July 1. Consequently, TG Jones is to close its Quadrant Shopping Centre store in Swansea. Regrettably, The City of Swansea Post Office is due to close on Monday February 22. We want to open a replacement branch as soon as possible, but this can take around six months. In the interim alternative branches will be Uplands, Mayhill, St Thomas and Townhill."
Residents of Crawley face a similar situation, with the busy shopping centre counter at County Mall set to shut its doors, although a number of branches in residential areas across the town will continue to operate.
Local reactions and next steps
In north Wales, the planned closure of the main Llandudno branch inside the TG Jones store on Mostyn Street has provoked fury among locals, who could now face up to a six-month wait before any replacement service is put in place. George Da Caosta, who relocated to Llandudno from Brazil just one year ago, told the BBC: "It's going to be terrible for the town. What are we going to do now if there's no-one to replace, or no-one to take over? The elderly people rely so much on a service like this."
Conservative Member of the Senedd (MS) Janet Finch-Saunders, whose constituency covers Llandudno, branded the closure a "devastating blow". Local representatives have warned that alternative provision is already at full capacity and unable to meet demand in town centres.
Bangor Aberconwy MP Claire Hughes told the BBC she will "keep the pressure on" the Post Office until a replacement location is found for both the Bangor and Llandudno branches.
The closures form part of TG Jones' broader restructuring plans, which are expected to see up to 150 of its roughly 450 stores shut their doors.
Full list of confirmed closures
Post Office sites due to close next:
- Kingswood Bristol, November 18, 2026
- Camborne, Cornwall, TG Jones, November 23, 2026
- Darlington, TG Jones, November 28, 2026
- Kings Walden, December 14, 2026
- Nottingham, TG Jones, December 21, 2026
- St Austell, TG Jones, December 26, 2026
- Bangor, TG Jones, December 29, 2026
- Harlow, TG Jones, December 30, 2026
- Cannock TG Jones, January 2, 2027
- Erdington TG Jones, January 2, 2027
- Telford Central TG Jones, January 2, 2027
- Alton TG Jones, January 4, 2027
- Ealing Broadway TG Jones, January 4, 2027
- Clacton-on-Sea TG Jones, January 4, 2027
- Brentwood TG Jones, January 5, 2027
- Llandudno TG Jones, January 16, 2027
- Watford TG Jones, January 23, 2027
- Liverpool Merseyside TG Jones, January 25, 2027
- Inchture, January 27, 2027
- Crawley TG Jones, February 10, 2027
- Swansea TG Jones, February 22, 2027
Of the TG Jones stores earmarked for closure, 34 house a Post Office. Brighton, Churchill Square, Harrow, St Ann's Shopping Centre and Streatham, London (Streatham High Road) are amongst those on the list, though no confirmed closure dates have yet been given.
For residents in affected areas, the shutdowns mean a lengthy journey to access Post Office services. Kyle Lodge, from Llandudno, said his nearest Post Office counter is an 18-minute drive away. He told the BBC: "It's quite an inconvenience to be fair... We've got to travel all around; I think the closest one is Colwyn Bay."
Campaigners have raised the alarm that, with bank branches continuing to disappear at record rates, the Post Office remains the last viable in-person option for cash deposits, parcel deliveries, and face-to-face bill payments across many UK towns. While Post Office Ltd has confirmed it is actively searching for replacement operators and assessing expressions of interest, finding new franchise partners typically takes more than six months, leaving high streets without services and residents cut off in the meantime.
