Major shop closures across the UK, mapped
Questions about the long-term prospects of the UK high street have persisted for years, particularly as sales shift online, but 2025 has proven to be another year without definitive answers to emerge.
Looking back, there’s a lot to worry about. Major retailers including Iceland, Marks and Spencer, (MKS.L) the Co-op and Morrisons have collectively closed thousands of branches across the UK.
There was weak growth in sales in October and Retail sales down 0.1% Black Friday did not produce the same kind of increase as in previous years. Supermarkets also experienced their fourth consecutive monthly decline.
Over a longer period of three months, the picture was slightly more positive, as sales rose 0.6% in September as more people bought clothing and technology products.
Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said: “Retailers have made it clear that this year’s budget date is unhelpful and frustrating consumers at the height of the festive shopping period.
Read more: Inflation in the UK fell more than expected to 3.2% in November as food prices fell
“The latest data shows that shoppers have been influenced by all the speculation about potential tax increases and remain highly cautious despite the lure of Black Friday.
“A surge in clothing sales in September and the launch of must-have technology helped keep the quarterly figure in positive territory, but this is the critical ‘golden quarter’ where many retailers cash in to help them through the weak new year period.”
Beyond supermarkets, other well-known high street names are also struggling with sales declines or operational issues. Earlier this year, Yahoo Finance UK reported the closure of Amazon (AMZN) Fresh stores across the UK.
Stores using innovative but costly technology may have failed to attract enough customers, leading to what Amazon described at the time as a “difficult decision” to close or convert entire locations.
WH Smith (SMWH.L), meanwhile, has had no shortage of problems. Shares of the company, which sold its chain of approximately 480 stores to Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital in June, lost value. The retailer also sharply revised its profit forecast downward after admitting an accounting error at its US division. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is investigating the error.
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As in previous years, the UK’s high streets are ending the year on a mixed note. Closed shops remain a familiar sight in many areas, but investments have been promised to help breathe new life into the spaces.
