High street icon to close 150 shops — supermarket and banks also closing
More and more high street stores have announced upcoming closures, putting hundreds of jobs at risk across the country. Among these are major banks, as well as fashion brand Phase Eight and charity shop British Heart Foundation.
TFG, the owners of Phase Eight, could shut as many as 400 stores, having already announced plans to close more than 100 underperforming outlets as part of a sweeping restructuring programme. The brand has already announced the closure of its St Andrews outlet, having previously shut stores in Dundee and Perth. Similarly, the British Heart Foundation have announced plans to close 150 of its stores.
It is expected that the first 90 branches will shut for good by March 2027, with the remaining to shutter by the following March.
Bosses said the charity is facing an “exceptionally challenging trading environment” but have vowed to sustain their “groundbreaking research.” They will continue to sell items online, including via their official eBay page.
Morrisons have announced that seven of its stores will be closing, with 93 more to follow. The supermarket giant, which has over 2,200 stores across the UK, recently revealed plans to pull down the shutters on dozens of Morrisons Daily branches.
The supermarket said the stores, which were originally taken on as part of a £190million rescue deal for McColl’s in 2022, were subject to ongoing review but had been loss-making for some time despite efforts to boost trading.
A spokesperson for the company shared that employees affected by the closures may get alternative roles in the company.
One hundred or so stores will be closing, with a full list yet to come. However, the company has shared that seven Yorkshire stores will be among those shutting their doors.
Morrisons Daily stores closing:
- Moorcroft Road, Woodthorpe, York
- Queen Street, Recar
- Zetland Road, Loftus
- Esk Close, Guisborough
- High Street, Stokesley
- Fairfax Avenue, Hull
- Middle Street, South Driffield
Numerous high street banks have announced they will be shutting some of their remaining branches. Lloyds Banking Group is set to shut 79 more branches, including 31 Lloyds Bank branches and 48 Halifax sites, adding to the 95 branch closures already announced by the banking giant earlier this year.
