A number of popular high street stores have announced plans to close their doors permanently in 2025, while some others have announced new openings
Sophie Law Deputy Editor Spare Time and Ellen Jenne U35 Spare Time Writer
09:32, 03 Nov 2025
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A number of popular high street stores have announced plans to close their doors permanently in 2025, while some others have announced new openings(Image: Adam Webb via Getty Images)
The UK high street is experiencing a dramatic overhaul, with hundreds of beloved branches set to vanish as 2025 comes to an end. Over 400 shops are predicted to vanish from our town centres, following extensive closure announcements by major brands, charities, banks, pubs and coffee shops due to escalating costs, inflation, and a consistent decline in footfall.
Post-pandemic, the British high street has witnessed a wave of closures driven by the cost-of-living crisis - all of which have steered more consumers towards online shopping. Marks & Spencer, Poundland, New Look, Claire's, and Wetherspoons are among the well-known names reducing their branch numbers, reports the Express.
Starbucks signage
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Starbucks are set to close down some coffee stores(Image: Getty)
Store closures
Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer recently revealed the closure of 11 of its cafes as part of a store restructure. The retailer operates over 300 food shops nationwide, many of which house cafes.
However, the closures will impact less than four per cent of the supermarket's stores. Some of the affected locations include Anlaby, in Hull, and Martlesham Heath, in Ipswich.
This follows M&S's recent closure of its Wolverhampton city centre store on Dudley Street. The iconic store, which first opened its doors in 1929, permanently shut down on September 27.
Starbucks
Starbucks has shuttered ten of its UK stores this month as part of a massive global restructure. The coffee chain is currently implementing a huge turnaround plan aimed at boosting sales and accelerating slow service.
A spokesperson for Starbucks confirmed that ten UK branches have already shut down this month. The company stated that it had conducted a comprehensive review of its store portfolio to ensure its outlets are "correctly located, generating appropriate levels of foot traffic and operating in the right formats".
Lloyds, NatWest, Halifax, Santander, and Barclays
Next month will see the closure of two dozen bank branches across the UK. Major banks including Lloyds, NatWest, Halifax, Santander, and Barclays have ordered these closures.
A total of 24 banks are due to close in November, affecting branches in England, Wales and Scotland. This includes significant locations such as Bristol, Manchester, and Sheffield.
The upcoming wave of closures commences on November 3 with the Bank of Scotland branch in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, shutting down, with more closures scattered throughout the month.
Over 500 banks will have closed by the end of 2025, with dozens more planned for 2026.
Poundland store closure sign
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Poundland will shut 16 stores before the end of this year(Image: Getty)
Poundland
Poundland is set to close 16 stores before the year's end. The discount retailer previously announced a major restructure in June, with plans to close 68 shops and two warehouses.
However, an additional 10 stores have been added to the list, with 13 branches scheduled to close in November, and three due to shut in December. All of the designated sites are located in England.
Beginning with approximately 800 outlets prior to the significant closures, the figure is anticipated to shrink to roughly 650 or 700 as rental agreements come to an end. By September, the high street favourite had already shuttered 57 locations across its portfolio.
New Look
The fashion retailer is preparing to shut down a further 11 outlets before year's end. Whilst not every location has been revealed, the company has confirmed that a branch in Lewes, Sussex, will permanently cease trading next month.
A New Look representative said: "Our store in Lewes is set to close on November 8. We would like to thank all of our colleagues and the local community for their support over the years. We hope customers continue to shop with us online at newlook.com, where our full product ranges can be found."
Claire's
Claire's is anticipated to axe 145 of its outlets following the firm's entry into administration in September. The timing of these closures remains unclear, though it's believed many will occur towards late November and throughout December.
Wetherspoon
Two Wetherspoon establishments are also scheduled for closure. The Water Gate in Barnstaple, Devon, will shut on November 9, whilst The Baxter's Court in Hackney, London, will close just one week prior.
Both establishments, alongside The Babington Arms in Derby, Kentish Drovers in Peckham, The Grey Friar in Preston, and The William Jameson in Sunderland, were listed for sale by Wetherspoons in June. These pubs will remain operational as Spoons until purchasers are found.
Cancer Research
Cancer Research UK has unveiled plans to shut nearly 200 of its shops within the next 18 months. The charity will reduce its main high street network to approximately 320 stores, with 90 closures planned by May 2026 and a further 100 anticipated by April 2027.
The decision on which shops to close will be influenced by factors such as financial performance, lease agreements, and location. The charity also plans to close its online marketplace in early 2026.
Despite the downsizing, the charity aims to grow its collection of larger, out-of-town "superstores", adding an additional 12 to its current 46 by 2028.
Store openings
Bodycare
Following last month's announcement that the company had entered administration, Bodycare intends to reopen stores. The health and beauty chain has been rescued by the former CEO of Body Shop and plans to reopen UK stores next year.
An investment group led by Charles Denton will take over Bodycare's brand and intellectual property, and as part of the deal, 30 to 50 shops will be relaunched during the initial phase. It has also been reported that several hundred employees will be rehired.
Asda
Asda has confirmed plans to open nine Express convenience stores over the coming days. The majority of these are in London, with a few branching out to locations beyond the capital. London sites include Tower Bridge, Greenwich, Limehouse Station, Haringey, Deptford, Whetstone, and Finsbury Park station (the former Arsenal FC club shop).
Shops will also be popping up in Botley and Stoke.
Anthropologie
American fashion retailer Anthropologie is set to open three new stores in the UK before the year's end. A Glasgow store is slated to open on November 12, 2025, followed by a Liverpool store on November 5, 2025.
A Manchester store is also in the pipeline for November 26, 2025.
The Range
The owner of The Range has plans to launch a series of new stores in former Homebase outlets across the UK. CDS Superstores, the parent company of the Plymouth-based retailer, snapped up 70 outlets when the DIY chain went into administration last year.
The retailer has already announced nine locations, with another three set to open in Penge, South East London; Woking in Surrey; and Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire in the New Year.
AllSaints
British luxury brand AllSaints has revealed plans to open three new stores before the year is out, marking the latest phase in its UK expansion. The first of these stores, located in The Mall at Cribbs Causeway just outside Bristol, opened its doors on October 15.
AllSaints will also unveil a new store at London's iconic Battersea Power Station on November 5. A third new site is set to follow in Stratford on November 12.
Quiz
Quiz Clothing has unveiled ambitious plans to launch between five and 10 fresh UK outlets over the coming 12 months, after completing an operational overhaul earlier this year.
The fashion chain is prioritising London and southern England for expansion, adopting a more "aspirational store concept" that debuted at Braehead Glasgow in September as its design template.
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