Overview
- Independent data cited by outlets reports 54 retail failures, 3,080 permanent store closures and about 30,000 job losses by October 2025.
- Poundland was sold for £1 to Gordon Brothers and is cutting its estate from roughly 800 to 650–700 shops, with more than 100 closures expected by early 2026.
- WH Smith exited the high street by selling its UK shops to Modella Capital, which plans a TGJones rebrand, while Claire’s saw 156 stores rescued by Modella and 145 UK closures.
- Pizza Hut’s UK dine‑in operator entered administration, confirming 68 restaurant closures plus 11 delivery sites, before Yum! Brands bought the remaining operation and saved 64 locations.
- Other significant retrenchments included Bodycare’s roughly 150 store shutdown, Leon’s plan to close about 20 sites, Fired Earth’s showroom closures after a brand sale to Topps Tiles, and targeted reductions at New Look and River Island.