From Starbucks and Pizza Hut to River Island and New Look, several major high street retailers closed stores across the UK in 2025.
These closures came amid pressure on consumer finances, rising inflation, and increased business costs.
As a result, numerous businesses launched restructuring efforts or entered administration, while the likes WH Smith and Clare's disappeared from UK High Streets completely.
UK high street shops that no longer exist
All the major brands that closed stores in 2025
Some of the major retailers that closed stores in 2025 include:
Poundland
Poundland was sold for £1 to investment firm Gordon Brothers back in June, with a major restructuring plan launched immediately.
The initial plan was to close 68 shops and two warehouses in the UK, putting 1,300 jobs at risk.
However, Poundland concluded its main store closure programme in September, shutting 57 stores and placing 11 closures on hold.
Since then, more than 40 other closures have been revealed due to leases expiring or landlords serving notice.
Poundland is set to shut more than 100 sites by the start of 2026, as it looks to trim its estate from around 800 sites to between 650 and 700.
WH Smith
After more than 220 years, having opened its first store in 1792, WH Smith disappeared from the UK high street in 2025.
The group sold off all its UK high street retail shops to private equity company Modella Capital to focus on its travel locations, where it will still operate under the brand.
As a result, Modella revealed plans to rebrand the chain as TGJones.
Around 20 WH Smith stores closed in 2025, as Mondella pushed forward with efforts to sell off the high street arm.
Claire’s
The UK arm of fashion accessories business Claire’s fell into administration this year after its US owner entered bankruptcy.
Modella Capital once again appeared in the picture, striking a deal to save 156 stores.
However, 145 shops – employing around 1,000 workers – were not part of the deal and closed as a result.
Pizza Hut
In October, Pizza Hut confirmed that 68 of the brand’s UK restaurants would shut after the business running its franchise in the country, DC London Pie, entered administration.
It also shut 11 delivery sites as part of a restructuring, which put 1,210 workers at risk of redundancy.
American hospitality giant Yum! Brands, which owns the global Pizza Hut business, bought the remaining UK restaurant operation in a rescue deal, saving 64 sites.
Bodycare
Bodycare was another brand to disappear from UK high streets for good after it shut all its roughly 150 stores.
The retailer was founded in 1970 in Lancashire and sold beauty products, fragrances, and other bathroom items.
It employed as many as 1,000 people early this year but came under pressure from rising costs and a shortfall in funding, which also affected supplier relationships and led to stock shortages.
Quiz Clothing
Fashion chain Quiz shut 23 of its stores after entering administration in February, affecting around 200 workers.
It closed the shops despite being bought in a pre-pack administration deal by a subsidiary of the founding Ramzan family.
Leon
Leon is closing around 20 of its restaurants after launching a major restructuring in December.
The company said it will shut the doors of the worst-performing of its 71 stores.
It came after the group was bought back by co-founder John Vincent from supermarket group Asda.
Select Fashion
Select Fashion was another chain to cease trading in 2025, after the womenswear business came under pressure from growing losses.
The business closed all of its around 80 stores earlier this year and entered liquidation after failing to find a buyer.
Homebase
Homebase shut 65 shops between January and March after falling into administration late in 2024.
Retail group CDS, run by The Range owner Chris Dawson, purchased the brand but was unable to save all its stores.
Bosses at Homebase have said recent years were “incredibly challenging” for DIY stores, blaming “a decline in consumer confidence and spending” after the pandemic.
New Look
High street fashion chain New Look shut 15 of its stores in the UK in 2025.
The group also revealed it would be leaving the Republic of Ireland, shutting all its 26 shops in the country, impacting nearly 350 workers.
Starbucks
In September, Starbucks also revealed plans for proposed store closures in the UK, putting jobs at risk.
The group did not disclose exactly how many sites would shut, but closed 10 locations in October as part of the process.
How many cups of tea/coffee should you drink a day?
There are currently around 520 company-owned stores in the UK, as well as several franchise-owned coffee shops.
It is understood that more than 5,600 people work for Starbucks across the UK.
Fired Earth
Upmarket tile retailer Fired Earth fell into administration in October, resulting in the closure of its 20 UK showrooms and the loss of 133 jobs.
Rival Topps Tiles bought the Fired Earth brand, IP, website, and around £2.5 million worth of stock, but could not save any of the chain’s stores.
Brewdog
Brewdog shut 10 of its bars back in July, including its first-ever venue in Aberdeen.
The closure plan, which was part of a shake-up of Brewdog’s hospitality arm, put almost 100 jobs at risk.
Monki
The H&M Group announced plans at the start of the year to close its seven Monki brand stores.
It said that a “limited number” of these would be transformed into its sister brand Weekday.
River Island
River Island revealed back in August that it was preparing to close 33 stores as part of a restructuring plan (which was approved by the High Court).
The plan is aimed at preventing River Island from collapsing into administration, and comes after a decline in footfall and sales.
Along with the closures, River Island will also pay reduced rent at a further 71 shops.
You can see the full list of River Island stores set to close here.
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Hobbycraft
In April, Hobbycraft revealed plans to shut nine of its stores, in a move it said would impact up to 126 workers.
It comes after Modella Capital bought the retail business in 2024.
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