High streets across Britain are facing another wave of closures, with banks, retailers and family-run businesses confirming they will shut up shop in the coming weeks and months.
Typo exits UK market
Australian stationery and gifting brand Typo will close all 13 of its remaining UK stores. A spokesperson for Cotton On Group, which owns the brand, said: "After careful consideration, we are closing Typo's operations in the United Kingdom, with all stores and online trading to close by early 2027."
The spokesperson added: "We recognise the impact of this decision on our Typo UK team who are already aware of this, and our priority is to support our people through this transition. Despite the efforts of our teams, ongoing high rent and operating costs, combined with softer sales, mean there is no sustainable path today for Typo in the UK."
HMV to close flagship Oxford Street store
HMV has announced plans to shut its flagship Oxford Street store just three years after relaunching the site, citing rent demands that have doubled. The retailer was previously forced to close the store in 2019 after going into administration, before bringing it back to life in 2023. Now the doors are set to close once more.
HMV Managing Director Phil Halliday said: "This is a special store, it's where we began 100 years ago and bringing it back to life in 2023 was a big moment in our recent history. It's frustrating that it has been made commercially unviable. However, we are looking ahead, and our focus is now on what we do to make exciting steps for HMV in 2027."
Regional closures: Pep&Co, M&S and Kam & Co
In Scotland, budget fashion retailer Pep&Co has confirmed the closure of its Glenrothes store, which will shut for good after 11 years on October 22. In Hampshire, Marks & Spencer has confirmed the closure of its M&S Simply Food outlet in Alton, due to close in January when the existing lease expires.
Kam & Co, a family-run business in Basildon that has served customers since 1985, selling martial arts clothing and accessories, oriental foods and furniture, will also shut down permanently. The shop is due to close at the end of this month, with a closing-down celebration planned for October 24.
A spokesperson from the shop said: "After 41 years we are closing our beloved shop Kam & Co here in Eastgate. My mum and dad, aka Rose and Kam, opened this shop in 1985 when Eastgate first opened and have been here ever since selling martial arts goods and Asian groceries to the community.
"We've watched our loyal customers grow as we grew and made so many friends along the way and now, sadly, it's our turn to leave as running a business certainly gets harder as you get older. It is such an achievement that we have survived so long and is a testament to our customers and how important in-person retail shopping is to the community."
Lloyds Bank continues branch closures
Lloyds Bank looks set to press ahead with further branch closures, having already shut 17 sites this month. The bank still has several closures scheduled for the remainder of October, including:
- Gateshead Jackson House, 24–26 Jackson Street – October 19
- Devizes 38 Market Place – October 21
- Widnes 23–24 Albert Square – October 21
- Chesterfield 30 Rose Hill – October 22
- Nottingham – Arnold 76 Front Street – October 27
- Llandudno 22 Mostyn Street – October 28
- Braintree 2–4 Bank Street – October 29
- Buxton Spring Gardens – October 13
- Leamington Spa – October 20
