All the independent stores that are closing for good this year and the heartbreaking reasons why

INDEPENDENT shops connected precocious streets are closing astatine a accelerated rate.

Last twelvemonth the UK mislaid 37 shops a day, with 13,500 closing for bully successful 2024, a emergence of 28% connected 2023, according to the Centre for Retail Research.

The gait is expected to enactment the aforesaid successful 2025, with an estimated 17,350 closures and it they expect the immense bulk - immoderate 14,660 - to beryllium autarkic retailers.

There are myriad reasons arsenic to wherefore a store mightiness determine to unopen - for example, the proprietor whitethorn simply discontinue oregon the lease for the crippled mightiness end.

But 1 of the communal themes among galore autarkic retailers is that conditions connected the precocious thoroughfare are excessively pugnacious to support trading.

Since the pandemic, the fig of radical spending connected the precocious thoroughfare has declined, with much radical switching to online buying oregon cheaper brands.

This has aligned with energy prices soaring, peculiarly for businesses, portion rents person besides surged implicit the past fewer years.

And galore chains person been closing branches connected precocious streets to chopped costs, which is making them little charismatic to shoppers, resulting successful adjacent little footfall for autarkic stores.

Plus, the changes successful the Budget past twelvemonth by Chancellor Rachel Reeves connected putting nationalist security rises onto employers has added adjacent further pain.

While galore large chains adjacent down locations successful favour of much fashionable retail parks with higher footfall

Here are each the autarkic shops that person announced they are shutting for bully truthful acold this twelvemonth and each the reasons they gave.

Kong, Coventry, closed successful January

Independent apparel store Kong, hailed "the champion store successful the city", abruptly closed down past period aft 37 years.

Kong was known for selling apical thoroughfare deterioration brands and boasted a loyal pursuing successful Coventry. 

The closure came arsenic a astonishment to galore aft the squad confirmed the news connected December 31 successful a connection online that said they had "mixed emotions".

Partridges, Chelsea, closed February 2

Iconic market store Partridges, beloved by section A-list celebrities successful Chelsea, London, has closed for bully aft 53 years.

The store is known for its gourmet items and planetary products, and the galore high-profile shoppers who person walked done their doors.

The business is transferring retired of Chelsea and into adjacent Kensington, connected Gloucester Road due to the fact that a section spot manager is taking implicit the space.

In an affectional societal media post, proprietor John Shepherd said: “Although the Chelsea section is sadly coming to an extremity we are looking guardant successful the future to gathering Partridges successful smaller and much sustainable store formats across London."

Expressions, Devizes, Wiltshire - closed January 25

Boutique paper store Expressions successful the marketplace municipality of Devizes, Wiltshire, closed past month, becoming yet different casualty of the UK's struggling precocious streets.

The store present stands bare with conscionable motion successful the model that reads: "Now closed. Thank you for each your enactment and customized implicit the years.”

The autarkic store has a 5 prima Google standing with hundreds of affirmative reviews from section shoppers.

One section posted connected societal media: "“I ever usage expressions for my cards arsenic they're ever truthful beautiful. Absolutely gutted to spot they're closing down.”

Top Town Market, Grimsby - this weekend

Top Town Market successful Grimsby is being demolished to marque mode for a caller amusement portion with a cinema arsenic portion of a caller section leisure scheme.

Locals person called it "the extremity of an era" arsenic the market, which has been a staple of the municipality for implicit fractional a century, closes for bully today.

Staff subordinate Sue told Grimsby Live: "I've been present 30 unusual years connected and disconnected and I'll miss the customers truthful much."

Once the longstanding marketplace stalls person been demolished, a caller cinema and different entertainment features will instrumentality its place.

A spokesperson from North East Lincolnshire Council said:" The assembly is talking separately with the basal holders and cafés astir different suitable spaces successful the municipality centre, which tin accommodate their needs."

Jolly's, Bath - February 22

Jolly's, a flagship section store successful Bath, is acceptable to adjacent connected February 22.

The store has stood up since 1823 and is 1 of Europe's oldest section stores.

A closing down motion has been posted successful the windows of the immense gathering stating that each banal indispensable go.

The store, portion independent, is owned by Frasers Group, which announced it would shutter the store contempt plans by the assembly to unafraid a future for it.

"The assembly was unaware of the volition of the existent occupier to enactment up the notices which person appeared successful the windows of the store," it said successful a statement.

"While plans are astatine an precocious signifier with a 3rd enactment occupier, the assembly is not successful a presumption to marque a ceremonial connection astatine this clip successful narration to its proposals for the aboriginal of 1 of Bath’s astir important section stores."

Vintage Co, Baldock - February 28

After 8 years successful business, Vintage Co connected Baldock High Street successful Hertfordshire volition adjacent for bully connected February 28.

Owner Bronagh Hughes, 57, said the furnishings store volition unopen due to the fact that of a diminution successful concern and said she's present reached the constituent wherever she "simply cannot marque it work".

Ms Hughes besides blamed "health issues" for adding to the decision.

She plans to proceed moving smaller projects and operating via societal media.

Matthews Shoes, New Milton - February

Family-run store Matthews Shoes has announced it volition adjacent a tract for bully successful February aft much than 30 years connected the precocious street.

The store successful Station Road, New Milton - astir six miles from Christchurch - volition close, portion different subdivision connected Christchurch precocious thoroughfare volition stay open. 

The store has launched a merchantability up of the closure. 

A spokesperson from the concern said: “Our New Milton subdivision volition beryllium closing successful February 2025. 

“We’d similar to convey each our customers for your loyalty implicit the years and apologise for immoderate inconvenience this whitethorn cause."

Sandersons, Sheffield - March

Sandersons, located successful the Fox Valley buying analyzable in Sheffield, volition adjacent successful March pursuing a review of the business.

The family-run store, which archetypal opened successful 2016 connected the tract of a erstwhile steelworks, was unveiled with fanfare by actress Joanna Lumley, but is present owed to close.

In a heartfelt statement, Sandersons said: “We are atrocious to archer you that our Fox Valley store volition adjacent successful March.

"We’ve loved being portion of the assemblage present and look guardant to seeing you successful the coming weeks.

“We person seen important maturation successful our online business, and our unsocial scope of brands volition proceed to beryllium disposable to each our customers. 

"We’ll besides beryllium introducing immoderate large deals crossed our apical brands successful the closing down sale.”

The institution said it would assistance unit impacted by the closure to unafraid caller positions.

Warwicks, Wellingborough - June 2025

Iconic suit store Warwicks, based successful Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, is closing down this summer aft much than a period connected the precocious street.

The shop, which opened successful 1868, has been up for merchantability for implicit a twelvemonth but has failed to find a buyer.

If nary 1 takes implicit the concern earlier June this year, it volition adjacent for bully arsenic proprietor Neil Warwick has decided to retire.

However, it has launched a immense closing down merchantability with remaining banal up for grabs astatine a 50% discount.

Gardiner Haskins, Cirencester - unconfirmed

Homeware store Gardiner Haskins successful Cirencester is closing aft 45 years aft owners said it had go "unviable" to run.

The store, which calls itself Cirencester's "largest autarkic location centre", has sponsored the section football nine and is considered a cardinal portion of the community.

It is not yet confirmed erstwhile it volition shut, but the store reassured customers it volition fulfil each orders earlier closing.

Managing Director Ben Allen said: "This is bittersweet news for our unit and the assemblage we person served for implicit 45 years. 

"We are incredibly grateful to our loyal customers for their support."

Stubley's Furniture, Telford - unconfirmed

Stubley's Furniture, adjacent Telford successful Shropshire, is closing down aft 40 years.

The day is not yet confirmed, but for merchantability signs are up astatine the spot and the proprietor has confirmed it is owed to close.

Owner Mark Stubley said successful a station connected societal media: "The clip has travel to close our doors. Owning the concern and moving present successful Wellington has ever been an implicit privilege, but present is the clip for retirement.

"I would similar to convey you each for your loyalty, enactment and customized implicit the years. It has truly been appreciated.

"Please beryllium assured that the committedness to providing you with the champion work is inactive our implicit priority. Do telephone successful to “Stubley’s” and spot our banal for a bargain!"