The UK's High Streets have been dealt another significant blow this week, with a series of major retailers confirming sweeping store closures and job losses. The announcements have sparked a fresh debate among consumers, who are pointing to a fundamental mismatch between traditional shop hours and modern working life as a core reason for the decline.
A Wave of Retail Closures Hits the High Street
British fashion chain River Island has confirmed it will shut 32 stores this January as part of a major restructuring strategy. This decisive move follows a difficult period for the retailer, which reported a pre-tax loss of £32.3 million and a 19% drop in sales.
River Island is not alone in its struggles. Supermarket giant Morrisons has revealed plans to close its Rathbones Bakery site in Wakefield, putting 115 jobs at risk. Furthermore, accessory retailer Claire's and discount chain The Original Factory Shop have both entered administration this month, threatening a combined total of around 2,500 jobs.
This continues a worrying trend from the previous year, which saw household names like Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, and Poundland all shutter outlets, with numerous further closures anticipated throughout 2026.
Shoppers Identify the 'Key Reason' for the Decline
While the financial figures tell one story, shoppers themselves are highlighting a more practical, everyday issue driving them away from physical stores. In a revealing Reddit discussion, many Brits argued that the standard operating hours of High Street shops are completely out of sync with the typical 9-5 work schedule.
One frustrated commenter summed it up, stating, "A 90% weekday overlap between my working hours and their working hours doesn't help to shop there." Another user strongly agreed, writing, "'Why doesn't anyone shop on the High Street any longer?' Because we work. We all work."
The sentiment was that the High Street model is antiquated, designed for an era when more people had flexible daytime availability. "If you insist on closing at 5:30pm every day, then f**k off. Amazon it is," one shopper concluded bluntly.
Stock Issues and Pricing Disparities Add to Frustration
Beyond inconvenient hours, customers also vented about frequent stock shortages and confusing pricing policies that push them online. One shopper recounted a common experience: "When I do go to the shop I get told the items I am looking for are all online."
Others shared specific anecdotes of poor in-store service. One customer described visiting Currys to buy a laptop, only to be told it was out of stock. Moments later, they used the store's own website to order the same laptop for collection from that very store within 30 minutes.
A further complaint centred on price discrepancies. A shopper needing a washing machine quickly found a suitable model on Currys' website, listed as in stock locally. Upon visiting the store, they discovered the price was around £40 higher. After being refused the online price, they simply ordered it via their phone while sitting in a nearby café, collected it twenty minutes later, and had it loaded into their car by store staff.
These experiences underscore a growing perception among consumers that the traditional High Street offer is not just inconvenient, but often actively uncompetitive compared to the seamless, and frequently cheaper, online alternative.
