The high street is undergoing significant changes with many well-known retailers closing stores this September.

WHSmith and department store giant Beales are among those preparing to pull the shutters on brick-and-mortar sites within weeks.

This year, the UK has seen a significant number of store closures with nearly 5,000 chain stores shutting down in 2023 alone.

According to PwC UK,  store closures occurred at a rate of 39 per day last year – a slight increase from 2022 but less than the period between 2016 and 2021. This resulted in 10,494 store closures and 119,405 job losses across the sector.

The trend continues as retailers adapt to changing consumer habits and economic pressures, including pharmacy giant Boots which is expected to bid farewell to a handful more stores by summer’s end.

WHSmith

WHSmith, a staple of British high streets, is set to close two stores this September. The closures are part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and focus on more profitable locations.

The craft and stationery giant announced that it will be leaving Sale’s high street with the closure of its Stanley Square store. The shop will close on 14 September 2024.

A WHSmith spokesperson said, “We can confirm that the WHSmith store in Sale will be closing on Saturday 14 September owing to the landlord’s redevelopment plans.”

Beales

The department store chain continues to struggle in the current retail climate which has seen the demise of other industry giants, Debenhams and House of Fraser.

Beales has announced the closure of its Liverpool store which will lock its doors for good in just one week. This branch has been a landmark in the area, offering a wide range of products from fashion to homeware.

Beales Department Store on Lord Street in Southport reopened in 2021. But now the three-floor retailer has launched a huge closing down sale which will continue until Saturday, September 7.

The closure is part of Beales’ ongoing efforts to restructure and survive in a challenging market. The loss of Beales will be felt deeply by loyal customers who have shopped there for years.

Boots

The pharmacy chain has marked dozens of stores for closure this year, many of which have already closed their doors.

Some confirmed for closure remain open for the time being, but they’re anticipated to be gone by summer’s end, including four locations in London:

• 383 Upper Richmond Rd, Putney, London, SW15 5QJ
• 8-10 Camden High Road, Mornington Crescent, London, NW1 0JH
• 100 New Bridge St, London EC4V 6JJ
• 315-317 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, London, N13 4YB

Co-op

East of England Co-op is pulling down the shutters on its site in Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich for good on August 31. The supermarket chain, which is independent of the Co-op group, sells a range of food and household items and operates several stores across the east of the UK.

Ipswich locals who frequent the post office inside the store will see it close on the same day. A notice confirming the closure has been pinned to the door of the popular branch, according to reports first made in the Ipswich Star.

The statement read: “Our business is going through a portfolio reshape, opening new stores and refurbishing existing ones, as well as consolidating and closing some locations. We would like to say a huge thank you to you, our members and customers, and to the team at this store for the service they have provided over the years.”