Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, the British Heart Foundation, and Coughlans Bakery are among the latest high street names to announce significant store closures, reflecting the ongoing challenges facing brick-and-mortar retail in the UK.
Marks and Spencer to Close 14 Cafés
Marks and Spencer has confirmed plans to shut 14 in-store cafés across 13 locations in England and one in Scotland. The high street giant stated that the move is part of a store restructuring strategy designed to 'provide more product choice and improve the shopping experience.' All impacted cafés are set to close by the end of the year. Affected locations include Crawley (West Sussex), Dunblane (Stirling, Scotland), Congleton (Cheshire), Stone (Staffordshire), Anlaby and Hull (East Riding of Yorkshire), Martlesham Heath (Ipswich), Bidston Moss (Cheshire), Bishop Auckland (Durham), and several sites in Kent: South Aylesford, Strood Retail Park, Whitstable, Canterbury, and Sittingbourne Retail Park.
Morrisons to Shut 100 Daily Outlets
Morrisons has announced it will close approximately 100 of its Morrisons Daily convenience stores. Seven locations have been named so far: Fairfax Avenue (Hull), Esk Close (Guisborough), Zetland Road (Loftus), Stokesley High Street (Middlesbrough), Queen Street (Redcar), Middle Street (South Driffield), and Woodthorpe (York). Further closures are expected in the coming weeks and months.
British Heart Foundation to Close 150 Shops
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is preparing to close 150 of its charity shops, with 87 shuttering by the end of March 2027. CEO Dr Charmaine Griffiths said: 'Like most retailers, we are facing an exceptionally challenging trading environment. Cardiovascular disease remains one of the UK’s biggest killers and our priority is funding research to save lives. We must take the difficult step to close some of our shops to sustain retail’s important contribution to funding BHF’s groundbreaking research.' The closures include stores in Armley, Aberdare, Alfreton, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Abingdon, Ashbourne, Bedworth, Burnley, Blyth, Beckenham, Balham, Barnet, Bath, Brighton, Bangor, Blackpool, Cannock, Clacton, Coalville, Christchurch, Cleveleys, Consett, Chorley, Camden, Crawley, Chesterfield, Chatham, Dunstable, Durham, Dumfries, Dewsbury, Dalkeith, Eastbourne, Elgin, Eccles, Finchley, Falmouth, Fulham, Fakenham, Formby, Grays, High Wycombe, Hawick, Harlow, Hammersmith, Huyton, Hornchurch, Helston, Holsworthy, Hartlepool, Harpurhey, Hull, Hereford, Harrow, Ilkeston, Keighley, Kendal, Long Eaton, Llanelli, Minehead, Newbury, Newton Aycliffe, New Milton, Nuneaton, Newport, Ormskirk, Plymouth, Poole, Perry Barr, Rhyl, Rayleigh, Shrewsbury, Spalding, South Shields, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland, Swansea, Salford, Sutton Coldfield, Salisbury, Uckfield, West Bromwich, Worksop, and Wrexham.
Coughlans Bakery Ceases Trading
Coughlans Bakery, part-owned by comedian Romesh Ranganathan, has ceased trading with immediate effect after going into liquidation. Managing Director Sean Coughlan and Romesh confirmed the news, saying 'gutted isn't the word.' The bakery, which had been operating since 1937, served locations across South London, Surrey, Kent, and West Sussex. All 30 branches have closed, including those in Addiscombe, Banstead, Beckenham, Caterham, Coulsdon, Chipstead, Crawley, Croydon, Dorking, Epsom, Forestdale, Godstone, Horley, Horsham, Lingfield, Kingswood, Nork, Old Coulsdon, Oxted, Purley, Reigate, Stoneleigh, Wallington, Warlingham, Westerham, and West Wickham.
Other Closures
GO Outdoors has launched a closing down sale at its Colchester branch. Meanwhile, in the village of Hellifield, North Yorkshire, the only post office has closed after the shop it was housed in, Ahernes of Hellifield, shut down after 130 years of service.
