The UK high street faces another significant loss as popular children's stationery chain Smiggle prepares to shut its doors in Redditch for good. The Australian retailer has launched a closing down sale with discounts of up to 70% ahead of the branch's final closure on February 22, 2026.
A Favourite Brand Exits Another Town
Founded in Melbourne, Australia in 2003, Smiggle arrived in the UK a decade later and quickly became a go-to destination for parents shopping for colourful school supplies and birthday party items. The Redditch branch, located in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre, first opened in 2017. At its peak in January 2018, the brand operated an impressive 138 stores across the country.
However, the retailer has faced a pronounced slump in recent years, leading to a steady retreat from the high street. The Redditch closure is the latest in a string of shutdowns, following the closure of its Inverness store on May 21, its Shrewsbury branch on May 25, and its unit at Cwmbran Shopping Centre in August last year.
Shoppers React with Sadness and Surprise
The announcement has been met with disappointment from local shoppers. One customer told The Sun, "Really is sad to see yet another shop closing down in the kingfisher, wish all the staff the best of luck." Another expressed shock, stating, "I was just in Redditch and didn’t even think to look in there. Can’t believe it’s closing down."
Part of a Wider Retail Crisis
The shuttering of Smiggle in Redditch is not an isolated incident but part of a distressing trend for UK retail in early 2026. Major brands including Primark and River Island have also announced store closures this month. According to the Centre for Retail Research, this wave has already resulted in 3,080 store closures and 30,153 job losses.
Other significant names affected include Poundland, which is set to lose 12 stores, and banking groups Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, which will collectively close 34 branches. This continues the pattern from the previous year, which saw giants like Marks & Spencer and Morrisons downsize their physical estates.
The ongoing high street retail crisis underscores the profound challenges facing brick-and-mortar stores, from shifting consumer habits to rising operational costs, leaving communities across the UK to witness the disappearance of familiar shopping staples.
