The UK’s high street is facing another wave of closures as several popular brands bid farewell to their brick-and-mortar locations this month. This follows years of ongoing closures by retailers like Boots, The Body Shop, Ted Baker, and House of Fraser, all adapting to shifting consumer habits. While some, like Wilko, have managed to make a comeback after exiting the high street entirely, the latest closures highlight the ongoing challenges facing traditional retail.
Among the stores closing this week are Tesco, Marks & Spencer, and Starbucks. Tesco is shutting its Emery Gate Shopping Centre branch in Chippenham today, August 15th. The superstore’s closure marks a shift for shoppers in the area, who will now have to rely on a new Tesco Express opening nearby on Chippenham High Street. This new branch will be open from 6am to 11pm, similar to most other Express stores across the UK.
Marks & Spencer is closing its 33-year-old store in Redhill, Surrey, this Saturday, August 17th. The closure is part of the brand’s major reshuffle of UK sites, announced in October 2022. Andy Nash, manager at the Belfry Shopping Centre, expressed his gratitude for the store’s contribution and wished the staff well. The shopping centre remains optimistic, with strong inquiries for the vacant retail space.
Starbucks, a global coffee giant, will close its Market Square cafe in Witney’s Woolgate Shopping Centre on Friday, August 16th. Despite the closure, the company has not announced any plans to open a new store in the area.
In addition to these closures, DIY giant Wickes will be shutting down its 30-year-old store in Moore Street, Sheffield, also on Friday, August 16th. This closure comes shortly after another Wickes store shut down in Bristol. While these closures are not part of a widespread shutdown, they reflect the ongoing challenges faced by many retailers in the current market.
