Which major high street brands closed stores in 2025? - full list here

Numerous businesses launched restructuring efforts or entered administration in response to these conditions.

Here are some of the major brands which closed sites this year:

– Poundland

Poundland is among the chains to have suffered over the year from pressure on shoppers, despite its appealing market position.

The group was sold for £1 and launched a major restructuring plan, which involved the initial closure of 57 stores in a move which put more than 1,000 jobs at risk.

The company, which was bought by investment firm Gordon Brothers, has since announced further tranches of closures and is set to have shut more than 100 sites by the start of 2026, as part of efforts to trim its estate from around 800 sites to between 650 and 700 shops.

– WH Smith

WH Smith had been a brand synonymous with the UK high street since its first store opened in 1792, selling everything from crime fiction books to confectionery.

The brand disappeared from the high street after the group sold off all its UK high street retail shops to private equity company Modella Capital put its focus on travel locations, where it will still operate under the brand.

Modella has since revealed plans to rebrand the chain as TGJones.

With efforts to sell off the high street arm, the group pushed forward with the closure of 20 stores.

– 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, striking a deal to save 156 stores.

However, 145 shops – employing around 1,000 workers – were not part of the deal, and eventually closed.

– Pizza Hut

In October, Pizza Hut confirmed that 68 of the brand’s UK restaurants would shut after the business running its franchise entered administration.

It also shut 11 delivery sites as part of a restructuring which put 1,210 workers at risk of potential redundancy.

DC London Pie, the firm that owns Pizza Hut’s UK dine-in restaurants, appointed administrators after being hit by a sharp downturn in the sector.

American hospitality giant Yum! Brands, who own the global Pizza Hut business, bought out the remaining UK restaurant operation in a rescue deal, saving 64 sites.

– Bodycare

Bodycare was among the brands to disappear from UK high streets for good after it shut around 150 stores.

The retailer was founded in 1970 in Lancashire and sold beauty products, fragrances and other bathroom items.

It employed about 1,000 people early this year but came under pressure from rising costs and a shortfall in funding, which also affected its relationships with suppliers and led to stock shortages.

– Quiz Clothing

Fashion retailer Quiz shut 23 stores after entering administration in February, a decision that affected roughly 200 employees.

The closures went ahead even though the business had been acquired through a pre-pack administration deal by a subsidiary linked to the founding Ramzan family.

Quiz began the year seeking urgent funding but ultimately collapsed into insolvency when it was unable to secure new backing.

– Leon

Leon is closing around 20 of its restaurants after a major restructuring in December.

The company 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 Asda.

– Select Fashion

Select Fashion was another retailer to shut down in 2025, after the womenswear chain came under strain from mounting losses.

The company closed all of its roughly 80 stores earlier this year and went into liquidation when no buyer could be found.

– 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, took on the brand - but was unable to save all its stores.

Bosses at Homebase have said recent years have been “incredibly challenging” for DIY stores, citing “a decline in consumer confidence and spending” after Covid.

– New Look

High street fashion chain New Look closed 15 of its UK stores over the course of the year.

The retailer also confirmed it would withdraw from the Republic of Ireland, shutting all 26 of its shops there and affecting 347 staff as consumer spending came under pressure.

– Starbucks

In September, Starbucks began a major overhaul that led to the closure of several of its UK coffee shops.

The group did not disclose exactly how many sites would shut but closed 10 locations in October as part of the process.

– Fired Earth

Upmarket tile retailer Fired Earth slid into administration in October, resulting in the closure of its 20 UK showrooms, and 133 job cuts.

Rival Topps Tiles acquired the Fired Earth brand, its IP, website and roughly £2.5million in stock, but was unable to keep any of the chain’s stores open.

– Brewdog bars

Scottish craft brewery and bar operator Brewdog closed 10 of its sites in July, including its original venue in Aberdeen.

The shutdown programme, part of a wider overhaul of Brewdog’s hospitality division, placed almost 100 jobs at risk.

– Monki

At the start of the year, European fashion giant H&M announced plans to close its seven stores under its Monki brand.

It said a “limited number” of these would turn into its sister brand Weekday, but still closed a number of shops permanently.

– River Island

Retail chain River Island shut 33 shops as part of a restructuring to help support its future.

The fashion group implemented a formal restructuring plan amid concerns it could slide into administration without intervention.

It also negotiated rent cuts across 71 additional stores as part of the overhaul.

– Hobbycraft

In April, the arts and craft retailer revealed plans to shut nine of its stores, in a move it said would hit up to 126 workers.

It comes after Modella Capital, once again, bought the retail business last year.