Famous Footwear has shut all 33 of its remaining UK stores, with the last closures taking place on April 23. The move follows the company's administration and the sale of some assets to Next. Administrators Interpath confirmed that all stores not transferred to Next have now closed, resulting in the majority of employees at those sites being made redundant.
The retailer, founded in 1880, had 320 employees before the closures. Interpath stated: “All stores that did not transfer to Next as part of that transaction closed on or before 23 April 2026. Regrettably, these closures mean that the majority of employees working in the non‑transferring stores have been made redundant.” The administrators are assisting affected staff with claims to the redundancy payments service.
The closures are part of a wider wave of high street shutdowns this week, including Claire's, which closed all 154 of its UK sites, affecting around 1,300 workers. However, Claire's may reopen four to 10 stores from June onwards. Luxury fashion brand LK Bennett also closed nine stores after entering administration, with around 90 jobs affected.
Additionally, pet store chain The Ark shut all its branches in South and East Devon on April 23, citing rising costs and economic pressure. A spokesperson said: “We can no longer sustain the increasing pressure and huge rising costs, and with more increases on the horizon, we have had to make the heartbreaking decision to cease trading.”
The British Retail Consortium has warned that retailers face a £5.6 billion wave of additional costs across 2025 and 2026, including higher wages, new packaging levies, and a reduction in rates relief. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also cautioned that the economic fallout from the Iran war will persist.
