The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has announced plans to close 150 of its charity shops across the UK, with 87 set to shut by the end of March 2027. The charity retailer cited an "exceptionally challenging trading environment" as the reason for the closures, which will be implemented over the next two years.
Closures Driven by Rising Costs and Changing Consumer Behaviour
The BHF stated that escalating operational expenses and shifting consumer behaviours have made several of its premises economically unsustainable. The charity also plans to reduce the size of its central retail teams as part of the restructuring.
Chief Executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths said: "Our shops mean so much to our colleagues, brilliant volunteers and communities across the UK. They are places where people come together to donate, shop and volunteer, helping to make a real difference to lives affected by cardiovascular disease."
Impact on Staff and Communities
Dr Griffiths acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, saying: "We know this will be a difficult time for our dedicated colleagues and volunteers in affected stores and emphasise our deep appreciation and gratitude for all they have done for BHF and the communities they serve." She added that cardiovascular disease remains one of the UK's biggest killers and that the charity must prioritize funding research.
Second Wave of Closures to Follow
A second wave of closures, expected by March 2028, will be announced once all impacted staff have been informed. The BHF emphasized that the closures are necessary to sustain retail's important contribution to funding groundbreaking research.
Full List of Stores Closing by April 2027
The following stores are scheduled to close by the end of March 2027:
- Armley 32 Town Street, LS12 3AB
- Aberdare 8 Commercial Street, CF44 7RW
- Alfreton 2 Severn Square Institute Lane, DE55 7BQ
- Ashton-Under-Lyne 36 Warrington Street, OL6 7JS
- Abingdon 36 Bury Street, OX14 3QY
- Ashbourne 16 St John Street, DE6 1GH
- Alfreton (Home Store) 47/51 High Street, DE55 7DR
- Bedworth 30 All Saints Square, CV12 8ND
- Burnley 86 St James's Street, BB11 1NJ
- Blyth 24 Regent Street, NE24 1LP
- Beckenham 168 High Street, BR3 1EW
- Balham 184 Balham High Road, SW12 9BW
- Barnet 123 High Street, EN5 5UZ
- Bath 8 Green Street, BA1 2JY
- Brighton (Home Store) 95-97 London Road, BN1 4JF
- Bangor Unit 5 The Menai Shopping Centre, LL57 1DN
- Blackpool 48-50 Church Street, FY1 1HP
- Cannock 21 Market Place, WS11 1BS
- Clacton 38 Station Road, CO15 1SX
- Coalville 28 Belvoir Shop Centre, LE67 3XA
- Christchurch 54 High Street Christchurch, BH23 1BN
- Cleveleys 1 Crescent West, FY5 1AD
- Consett 6 Middle Street, DH8 5QJ
- Chorley Unit 5 Market Walk, PR7 1DE
- Camden 65 High Street, NW1 7JL
- Crawley (Home Store) 44-46 The Broadway, RH10 1HG
- Chesterfield 28 Middle Pavement The Pavements Shopping Centre, S40 1PA
- Chatham (Home Store) 8-9 Pentagon Centre, ME4 4HP
- Dunstable 27 Broadwalk, LU5 4RH
- Durham 79 North Road, DH1 4SQ
- Dumfries 60 High Street, DG1 2JA
- Dewsbury 9 Foundry Street, WF13 1QH
- Dalkeith 3 Jarnac Court, EH22 1HU
- Dumfries (Home Store) Unit 12/13 Loreburne Shopping Centre, DG1 2BD
- Eastbourne 165 Terminus Road, BN21 3NX
- Elgin 165 High Street, IV30 1DW
- Eccles 1 The Mall, M30 0EA
- Finchley 718 High Road, N12 9QD
- Falmouth 43 Market Street, TR11 3AJ
- Fulham 338 North End Road, SW6 1NB
- Fakenham 10 Millers Walk, NR21 9AP
- Formby 1 The Cloisters Halsall Lane, L37 3PX
- Grays 5 North Mall The Grays Shopping Centre, RM17 6QF
- High Wycombe 18 White Hart Street, HP11 2HL
- Hawick 64 High Street, TD9 9EE
- Harlow 1 East Walk, CM20 1JH
- Hammersmith 127 King Street, W6 9JG
- Huyton 37 Derby Road, L36 9UQ
- Hornchurch 78 High Street, RM12 4UW
- Helston 37 Meneage Street, TR13 8RB
- Holsworthy 22 The Square, EX22 6AN
- Hartlepool (Home Store) 103-105 Middleton Grange, TS24 7RL
- Harpurhey (Home Store) Unit A Harpurhey Shopping Centre, M9 4DH
- Hull (Home Store) 266-268 Holderness Road, HU9 2HX
- Hereford 13 Elgin Gate, HR4 0AB
- Harrow (Home Store) 57, St Anne's Road, HA1 1JU
- Ilkeston 41 Bath Street, DE7 8AH
- Keighley 12 Cooke Lane Airedale Centre, BD21 3PF
- Kendal 30 Highgate, LA9 4SX
- Long Eaton 14 Market Place, NG10 1LS
- Long Eaton (Home Store) Unit 2 Eaton Court, NG10 1LP
- Llanelli (Home Store) 13 Vaughan Street, SA15 3TY
- Minehead 4 The Parade, TA24 5UF
- Newbury 5 Mansion House Street, RG14 5ES
- Newton Aycliffe 40 Beveridge Way, DL5 4DS
- New Milton 73 Station Road, BH25 6JD
- Nuneaton (Home Store) 6-14 Stratford Street, CV11 5BS
- Newport 63 High Street, PO30 1BA
- Ormskirk 18 Burscough Street, L39 2ER
- Plymouth 60 Cornwall Street, PL1 1LR
- Poole (Home Store) 348-350 Ashley Road Parkstone, BH14 9DF
- Perry Barr (Home Store) Unit 45 One Stop SC, B42 1SF
- Rhyl 42 High Street, LL18 1ET
- Rayleigh 137 High Street, SS6 7QA
- Shrewsbury 1 Mardol/15 Claremont St., SY1 1PY
- Spalding 2/2a Market Place, PE11 1SL
- South Shields 77 King Street, NE33 1DP
- Stockton-on-Tees 119-120 High Street, TS18 1AA
- Sunderland 37 Blandford Street, SR1 3JH
- Swansea 234 Oxford Street, SA1 3BL
- Salford (Home Store) 83-84 Raven Way, M6 5HT
- Sutton Coldfield Units 6-7 Red Rose Centre Sutton Coldfield, B72 1XX
- Salisbury 52-54 New Canal, SP1 2AQ
- Uckfield 122-126 High Street, TN22 1PX
- West Bromwich (CLR) 221 High Street, B70 7QZ
- Worksop (Home Store) 2 Bridge Place, S80 1JS
- Wrexham (Home Store) 31 Regent Street, LL11 1RY
