A HIGH street retailer with more than 450 stores has issued an update on branch closures, but shoppers don’t have to worry just yet.

Next revealed the plans in its annual results – an update on its financial position and activities – which were released today.

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To boost shoppers, Next revealed it will cut prices by 2% due to lower purchasing costs for clothing and goods.

It says price tags will fall by a further 0.5% in the six months to January.

The high street giant currently has 458 stores, including its main Next stores and clearance stores.

Next now has eight stores fewer than in January 2023, after the closure of twelve major stores.

Shops in Newcastle, Hertfordshire and Derry, Northern Ireland, have all closed in the past year.

But it’s not all bad news for shoppers, because Next opened four new outlet stores in the same period.

Next Outlets are not like normal Next stores.

They offer a selection of outlet products, past season collections and sale items at discounted prices that you won’t find anywhere else.

In the results, Next also provided an update on its plans for stores.

It said: “While we will continue to open and close a small number of stores, we do not expect any material net change to our retail sales space over the coming year.”

This means that while stores may close and new ones open in the coming year, the retailer expects its overall store numbers to remain roughly the same.

Julie Palmer, partner at business recovery specialist Begbies Traynor, said: “Last year was another impressive year for Next as it bucked the trend and delivered record results.

“These results show how the retailer continues to be at the top and leading the way in a sector where so many have struggled recently.”

While Charlie Huggins, from investment service Wealth Club, said Next has managed to emerge strongly at a turbulent time for the high street.

Retailers have been hit by higher energy prices, pressure on consumer finances and borrowing costs.

Charlie added: “Several other retailers have struggled, and some, like Wilko’s, have been consigned to the history books.

“Next’s core proposition clearly resonates with British consumers and is arguably stronger than ever.”

In last year’s results, Next revealed plans to close 11 stores.

Six of the stores were not expected to achieve their target margins, while two involved site redevelopment.

The remaining three have been closed because no agreement could be reached with the landlord of the site.

What else is happening on the shopping street?

Retailers have been feeling the pressure since the pandemic and many are struggling to stay afloat.

High energy costs and rents mean that many large companies are starting to slim down the number of high street stores they operate.

We’ve seen several big losses in the last twelve months, including popular discounter Wilko and stationary brand Paperchase.

More recently, health and beauty chain The Body Shop has gone bankrupt and announced the closure of many of its 200 stores.

Other retailers such as Iceland, Boots and Matalan have reduced the number of stores on the high street.

This month, Boots announced it will close a total of nine locations, as part of its wider plans to lose 300 locations.

These closures will reduce the retailer’s total number of stores from 2,200 to 1,900.

Marks and Spencer is another retailer that has made changes to its store portfolio.

In 2022, M&S announced it would close 67 “lower productivity” stores as part of the 110 stores it had already earmarked for closure.

It wasn’t all bad news for M&S shoppers, though, with some stores closing, others opening in new locations.

We have the full list of chains opening stores in 2024. See if one is coming to a shopping street near you.

Is it all bad news?

The answer to that is no. Some retailers are expanding despite difficult market conditions.

Primark recently confirmed plans to open new branches and invest and renovate more than a dozen existing stores.

Meanwhile, Asda is massively expanding its portfolio of smaller Express stores, with plans to open 110 new stores.

Popular discounter B&M also said it plans to open 17 new locations by 2024, some of which will open soon.

Also earlier this year, WHSmith confirmed it would open 15 new stores, but these would not be located on the high street.

We have the full list of chains opening stores in 2024. See if one is coming to a shopping street near you.

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SHOPPERS are devastated after it was revealed that an ‘excellent’ jewelery chain with 23 branches will close within months.

The popular retailer is set to say goodbye to its Cambridge store as its lease comes to an end.

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The much-loved TH Baker store in Grafton Center is preparing to roll down its shutters for the final time.

Bosses have announced it will close for good on May 4.

Bosses expressed regret over the closure and said the move will mark the end of an era.

A company spokesperson said: “We regret to announce that our Cambridge store will close its doors for the final time on May 4.

“This closure marks the end of a cherished chapter in our history, and we are extremely grateful for the support and loyalty of our customers over the years.”

Shoppers praised the store for its “excellent” customer service and great merchandise.

One customer said online, “It was lovely. We came in to sell an unwanted piece of jewelry, and the whole experience was seamless.”

Another added: “I’ve had really great service and support.”

A third wrote: “It had a great collection of jewelery and attractive prices.”

But all is not lost as the chain is running ‘everything must go’ deals.

Savvy shoppers get the chance to get their hands on accessories at unbeatable prices.

The closing sale includes diamond rings, colored stones, bracelets, necklaces and earrings, with a 50 percent discount.

They added: “We are delighted to offer a one-off closing sale.

“This spectacular event includes 50 percent off all jewelry, including diamonds, and thousands of products significantly discounted.

“It’s our way of saying thank you and offering you an unmissable opportunity to get your hands on beautiful pieces at half price.

“Don’t miss this last chance to shop our extensive and luxurious collection at unbeatable prices.”

Founded in 1888, TH Baker is a family business and has since developed into a leading independent jeweler.

More than half of the total stores are franchises of the Danish jewelry manufacturer Pandora.

The company also owns a Swarvoski franchise in Watford.

The retailer has already closed a number of locations, including a branch in Brighton and Birmingham.

The measure follows a wave of closures among retailers across the country.

Fashion giant Next with 510 branches will close one of its popular stores in the city center.

The company is closing its Newcastle branch as it looks to move to new premises, although a date for the move is yet to be confirmed.

Other retailers have also reduced the number of stores on the high street, such as Iceland, Boots And Matalan.

Argos also closed 42 UK stores last June, including all 34 branches in the Republic of Ireland.

Meanwhile, Ted Baker recently announced hundreds jobs and stores are at risk after plans to call in administrators were confirmed.

No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL), owned by Authentic Brands Group (ABG) and trading as Ted Baker, today filed a letter of intent.

Marks and Spencer is another retailer that has made changes to its store portfolio.

SHOPPERS are shouting “It’s a shame” after a supermarket today stopped a key service at a branch with “helpful staff”.

The Tesco store in the Kent town of Tenterden has lost its Tesco Mobile branch.

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Locals who use Tesco Mobile will now have to travel over ten miles to the telephone provider’s kiosk in Ashford.

Last month there was a sign that read: ‘This Telephone Shop closes on Sunday March 17th.

‘The nearest phone shop is Ashford Park Farm.’

Local residents shared on Facebook their disappointment upon hearing the news.

One user said: “That’s a shame. I bought my phone there last year.”

“Very helpful and knowledgeable staff.”

“It’s a shame for the staff who work there,” said another.

A third user exclaimed: “Oh no.”

“I often drop by to solve a problem, oh dear,” someone else added.

A fourth user said: “I used it to get a phone last month and found the staff helpful.”

A spokesperson for Tesco Mobile said: “Following an extensive review, we have made the difficult decision to close Tenterden Phone Shop due to low customer demand.”

“We will continue to serve the local community through our Ashford Park Farm Phone Shop, which remains open and ready to help.”

Tesco has already gone through a difficult period in recent months.

The retailer sold its banking business to Barclays for £600m after running it for 27 years.

Barclays will give Tesco an annual income for using its brand.

We’ve also seen quite a few Tesco store closures in recent weeks.

Tesco confirmed the closure of two stores in Chippenham and Armthorpe.

The Chippenham store has been a key part of the Emery Gate shopping center since 2008, when it signed a 15-year lease on the largest premises in the building.

What happens to the main street?

Several other retailers have struggled to make ends meet in recent years, especially since the pandemic.

Energy costs have risen and more consumers than ever are choosing to order online instead of going to the store.

This leaves some retailers struggling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.

Struggling fashion brand Superdry has said it is exploring various “cost-cutting options” as it considers a major restructuring including store closures and job cuts.

Boots revealed it would close 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to develop its brand.

The Body Shop is currently entering administration and has announced plans to close half of its 198 stores, seven of which were closed last week.

WHSmith told The Sun it has no plans to open any more high street stores as it wants to focus on the travel side of its business.

Major banks have also announced the closure of several branches.

Barclays will begin pulling down the shutters at fourteen locations in England, three in Wales and three in Scotland from April.

Even thrift stores are having a hard time Oxfam confirmed last year that it would close eight of its UK stores.

Here you can stay informed about all major store closures this month.

SHOPPERS were saddened to see a much-loved retail brand have to close for good today.

It was a blow for entertainment fans to see their GAME branch in Grimsby pull down its shutters for the final time.

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The retailer shocked loyal customers with their announcement in February, which was closely followed by a huge ‘everything must go’ sale.

Disappointed shoppers rushed to take advantage of the 20 per cent discounts before waving goodbye to the popular branch this morning.

A spokesperson for Frasers Group, which owns GAME, said: “It is with regret that we announce that GAME Rhyl will close in the spring.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank our employees for their hard work and dedication.

“Where possible, we are committed to finding new roles within the Group for staff.”

It comes after the GAME store closed shop in 2018 but was bailed out months later, as reported by Grimsby Live.

Unfortunately, several branches have bitten the dust in recent months, including those in Exeter, Witney and Huntingdon.

Meanwhile, two closed last year in Plymouth and Cambridge.

The Frasers Group also owns Sports Direct, a brand that has similarly seen a series of closures.

A branch in Stroud, Gloucestershire, will pull down the shutters for good at the end of March.

The sports retailer, which has more than 500 stores in Britain, also closed a store in the Orbital Shopping Park in Swindon at the beginning of this year.

The company previously closed a store in Coventry’s Central Six Retail Park in October last year, and one in Blackpool the following month.

Meanwhile, Sports Direct-owned Sports Direct Fitness closed its Salisbury location for good on December 11, much to the shock of members.

It comes as thousands of high street stores have said goodbye amid an epidemic of closures across the UK.

Even industry giants have fallen victim in recent months.

British retailers saw the amount of goods sold fall last month, at the fastest pace in three years.

According to data from the Office for National Statistics, sales volumes fell 3.2% in December, compared to a rise of 1.4% a month earlier.

Body Shop bosses recently called in administrators with a “significant number” of jobs and stores at risk as the brand looks set to enter an insolvency process.

Meanwhile, popular beauty retailer Boots has also sadly announced it will close 300 stores this year, following several closures in 2023.

And discount store Lidl has also seen a large number of locations close.

The full list, of 1,168 locations, includes locations in all parts of Great Britain, including: 66 in Scotland, 83 in Yorkshire, 83 in central England, 91 in south London and 42 in south-mid Wales.

Bargain hunters were also devastated to hear that discount retailer B&M was closing another store.

Meanwhile, Argos, Next, Jack Wills and Poundland have all announced they will permanently close selected branches this year.

It follows rising costs of living, rising energy bills and even some businesses continuing to feel the knock-on effect of the pandemic.

Shoppers have been forced to cut back, while the costs of running stores have also risen.

Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) this summer showed that Britain had lost 6,000 stores in a five-year period.

ADDICTED fans shouted “such a shame” as a popular high street store with “great bargains” pulled down its shutters for good today.

Shoppers were saddened as they said goodbye to discount store Poundstretcher in Chesterfield this morning.

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The closure has sparked outrage among locals, who are now calling the high street a ‘ghost town’.

One disappointed resident wrote: “The high street is dying. There is no fix for it. Get used to it. It’s only a matter of time now.”

While another wrote: “The town of Chesterfield used to be decent. Seems like a ghost town now, glad I moved.”

One discouraged shopper added: “Very sad news.”

“The city is dying which is such a shame,” a fourth agreed.

“This is so sad to read,” said another.

Someone else commented: “I’ll never get it back, it’s just going to get worse, it’s going to be a ghost town, just empty buildings”

“The last time I was there I didn’t recognize the city. No one goes to the city to shop anymore,” agreed another.

Bargain hunters were sad to see their beloved establishment disappear, but made the most of the 50 percent closure of sales.

Posting online, someone previously said: “It was absolutely manic”, while another added: “Never seen so many people in there.”

It follows a series of Poundstretcher closures in the UK in recent months, although around 450 stores are still open.

The company has launched thirteen branches in England since last year, as well as two in Wales and one in Scotland.

However, there were plans to open another fifty stores and create two thousand jobs over the next five years.

It comes as even industry giants are falling victim to rising bills and customers with less spending money amid the steep cost of living.

Several brands have gone bankrupt and disappeared from our shopping streets forever, such as Wilko and Paperchase.

The latest blow has left six major chains, including Next, The Entertainer, Iceland, Clarks and WHSmith, shutting down.

Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) this summer showed that Britain had lost 6,000 stores in a five-year period.

Body Shop bosses recently called in administrators with a “significant number” of jobs and stores at risk as the brand looks set to enter an insolvency process.

Meanwhile, popular beauty retailer Boots has also sadly announced it will close 300 stores this year, following several closures in 2023.

Moreover, bargain hunters were devastated to hear that discount retailer B&M had closed another store.

SHOPPERS are devastated following the news that a much-loved retail chain will close after 20 years.

The store’s staff announced the closure to customers, but no official closing date was shared.

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The demise of Shoezone in Dundee has caused heartbreak among locals and they have taken to social media in droves to share their grief.

One person said: “How sad. It’s been a shoe store all my life,” while another added: “Shoezone was all we had left.”

A third expressed concern about the future of the city writes: “It will soon become a ghost town.”

A fourth agreed: “There will be nothing left but coffee shops,” they said.

Fears are now growing for the remaining nine stores in Scotland, including the Glenrothes outlet.

One customer said staff assured shoppers that Shoezone would remain online and continue to operate branches in England.

He told The Courier Evening Telegraph: “I feel sorry for the staff.

“The banners for the closing sale appeared on Friday. Some of the staff were angry.

“It’s been there for a while; at least 20 years, but I think it’s considerably longer than that.

“I feared for the store during the height of the pandemic.

“The staff said we could still use vouchers and shop online.”

It comes as the closure of the Argos Dundee branch, located in the Overgate shopping centre, was announced last month after more than two decades of serving loyal customers.

According to the shopping center manager, the company’s managers have decided not to renew their lease, and the blow is just one example of British fears that high street shopping is coming to an end.

A spokesperson said this at the time The Courier: “We are currently in discussions with our colleagues at our Dundee Overgate Argos store.

‘We have made the difficult decision to close it and are supporting them in every way we can.

“This includes exploring opportunities for colleagues to be redeployed within Argos and Sainsbury’s.”

PUNTERS have been gutted after a major pub chain with 400 locations prepares to close one of its off-licences within weeks.

The pub in Reading will close its shutters on March 31 in a major blow to locals.

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The Narrowboat, run by Fuller’s, Smith and Turner chain, will welcome customers for the final time later this month.

A spokesperson for the chain said the pub in its current form is “currently not viable” and will be turned into a training center for the chefs and food development team.

They added: “This dedicated facility will benefit our teams, help us create and perfect great dishes for our menus and give us a fantastic center to develop our chefs of the future.

“We are sorry to disappoint the customers who have become valued regulars of The Narrowboat, but we believe this is the right course of action for the long-term success of the site.”

Locals and punters have taken to online to share their devastation at the news the pub will close, described as “stunning” by one person on Google Reviews.

One simply said: “Oh bloody hell”.

Another said: “Shame it’s closing as it’s a good location”, while another added: “Oh no! That’s a shame we were hoping to go there”.

Meanwhile, a fifth added: “Shame it’s closing as it’s a good location.”

It comes as hundreds of pubs across Britain are closing their doors as they battle cost pressures.

More than 500 British drinkers will close their doors for the last time in 2023, The Sun exclusively revealed in January.

Six thousand people also lost their jobs, with pub chefs blaming the losses and closures on rising commodity prices, energy bills and a heavy tax burden.

A shock poll conducted across Britain by Survation and shared exclusively with The Sun last month also shows that more than 7,000 pubs could go bankrupt in the coming year.

In October last year, Wetherspoon’s boss Tim Martin said the company was “performing well”.

But the chain has closed 44 pubs in the past two years, almost six of which were up for sale.

Stonegate, the group that runs Yate’s and Slug and Lettuce pubs, also sparked outrage last year by increasing the price of drinks from 5pm to 7pm to offset rising operational costs.

High street retailers are also being hit hard.

Supermarkets such as Lidl, Iceland and Tesco have closed branches since the beginning of 2023.

Meanwhile, retailers such as Poundstretcher, Argos and House of Fraser have also closed their own stores.

Keep in mind that retailers often close and open branches to balance their portfolio.

Other retailers have been hit hard, with Wilko, Paperchase and The Body Shop all in trouble since last year.

All told, thousands of employees have lost their jobs and hundreds of stores have closed across the UK.

And in June last year, pharmacy chain Boots said it would consolidate its portfolio of 2,200 stores to 1,900.

But it’s not all doom and gloom in the sector as a number of retailers are also opening stores.

Asda is opening hundreds of smaller convenience stores as it looks to compete with major players Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

Meanwhile, Lidl wants to open twelve new stores in the United Kingdom, with branches in Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Reading.

Costa Coffee will also open 11 concession branches in larger Sainsbury’s stores by 2024.

Wilko has also been relaunched on the high street under new ownership, including in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton.

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The Yemen-based branch of Al Qaeda said on Sunday that its leader, Khaled Batarfi, had died.

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, known as AQAP, released a video announcing Mr Batarfi’s death, with images of him wrapped in a white shroud covered with a black Al Qaeda flag. It was not explained how he died.

The U.S. government once considered Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations in the world. The group tried and failed to blow up US aircraft at least three times, and has been the target of US drone strikes for two decades. But in that time, both its power and ability to carry out attacks outside Yemen have declined, according to scientists who study the group.

“It will be interesting to see if the group charts a new course in the coming months,” said Gregory D. Johnsen, a Yemen expert at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. “AQAP has struggled in recent years, losing ground and recruits and is currently a shadow of its former self.”

In the video statement, Ibrahim Al-Qosi, a Sudanese senior leader in the group, expressed his “sincere condolences and sincere regret” over Mr Batarfi’s death.

He said the group’s new leader would be Yemen’s Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki. The United States previously offered one $6 million reward for information about Mr al-Awlaki, and $5 million for tips on Mr. Batarfi.

Born in Saudi Arabia, Mr Batarfi traveled to Afghanistan in the 1990s and fought alongside the Taliban before joining Al Qaeda’s branch in Yemen, an American newspaper said. informative sheet about him. He was believed to have been in his 40s when he died.

a United Nations Report estimated in January that the group had about 3,000 fighters spread across several Yemeni provinces and had faced operational and financial challenges but “persists as a threat.”

“Although in decline, AQAP remains the most effective terrorist group in Yemen with the intention to conduct operations in the region and beyond,” the report’s authors wrote.

Yemen has been torn by war over the past decade, as an Iran-backed militia, the Houthis, took control of much of the country, and Saudi Arabia – Yemen’s neighbor to the north – led a bombing campaign in an attempt to put them to flight. . Hundreds of thousands of people have died from violence, hunger and disease.

The Saudi-led coalition withdrew in recent years, leaving the Houthis to entrench their power in the north, including in the Yemeni capital Sana. In the south, the most powerful entity is an Emirati-backed armed separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council. The separatist group and other Yemeni armed groups have occasionally clashed with al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

The appointment of a new leader for the group “doesn’t change much in terms of intent,” said Colin P. Clarke, a counterterrorism analyst at the Soufan Group, a security consultancy based in New York.

“Like all his predecessors, al-Awlaki has repeatedly called for attacks on the US,” he said. “But the question comes down to capacity.”

Instability in Yemen – as the Houthis launch attacks on ships in the Red Sea in a campaign they say is solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and a US-led coalition carries out air strikes on the group – could provide “an opening” for AQAP to recruit and rebuild its operations, Mr Clarke said.

“That will be the overarching priority for al-Awlaki, to make AQAP relevant again within the broader jihadist movement,” he said.

A MAJOR retailer with 66 branches is set to close one of its stores today, leaving shoppers devastated.

The cosmetics retailer caused uproar among locals after announcing it was closing its Herefordshire branch for good.

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Beauty giant L’Occitane En Provence is pulling down the shutters on Hereford’s Old Market.

The sudden closure has left many shoppers disappointed and worried that other stores will disappear, leaving their mall empty.

One local resident wrote on social media: “Well that’s just fantastic, what a waste of money to build that centre.”

Another added: “So sad for those who will lose their jobs.”

The cosmetics branch opened on Hereford’s Old Market ten years ago and hundreds of customers have flocked to the store.

But beauty lovers in the area will now have to get their cosmetic essentials elsewhere.

“Oh, that’s a shame,” said a third.

They added, “I like their products even if they are a little pricey.”

While a fourth commented: “The real problem is that people don’t have the extra money to spend in ‘niche’ and gimmicky stores that no one really needs.

“Hereford needs to attract investment.”

Hereford Council has been contacted for comment.

Why are shops in the major shopping streets closing?

Retail chains have felt the pressure since the pandemic, as shoppers spend less money due to the rising cost of living.

High energy costs and the increased popularity of online shopping have taken their toll on many stores struggling to keep the lights on.

In recent years, an unprecedented number of popular stores have closed for good.

Several major brands have also collapsed, such as Wilko and Paperchase.

As consumers prefer to buy their favorite items online, even some of the largest retailers are facing tight budgets, leaving them no choice but to close stores to cut costs.

British retailers saw the amount of goods sold fall last month, at the fastest pace in three years, as under-pressure households moved some of their Christmas shopping to earlier this year.

Sales volumes fell 3.2% in December, Office for National Statistics data showed, compared with a 1.4% increase a month earlier.

Several major chains are pulling down the shutters for the last time this month.

WHSmith in Oban, Scotland, will close permanently on February 17.

Boots has revealed it will close 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to develop its brand.

A HIGH street fashion chain with 62 branches has abruptly closed another store after the takeover by Next.

Joules, known for his boots and raincoats, pulled down the shutters of another store in Stratford.

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The Joules branch on High Street in Stratford closed its doors on February 23.

It then bailed out the struggling brand in 2022 after falling into administration.

Shoppers have reacted on social media to the news that the Stratford site is closing.

One said: “It’s a shame and unfortunately the reality of today’s high streets; cities will have to be more creative with how they repurpose these empty spaces!”

Another wrote: “Sad to see Joules in High Street closing today. Another empty unit is created.”

A third simply said: “Oh no!”

While a fourth posted: “It’s not even worth going into town to shop.”

Joules said it hopes this isn’t the end for the brand in the area.

A spokesperson said: “We are currently negotiating contracts for the Joules store in Stratford and our hope is that we will reopen the store with a full refurbishment.”

As part of the £34 million deal, Next secured the jobs of 1,450 employees and 100 stores.

However, a total of 19 stores closed their doors for good.

The Stratford store is one of several other locations to close in the past year as part of restructuring plans.

The Joules store in Oban, Scotland, pulled down its shutters for the last time in February.

While the store in The Lexicon shopping center in Bracknell also closed its doors in January.

Three other locations will close between May and August 2023, including Chelmsford, Harrogate and Nottingham.

In April, Next announced that the relaunch of Joules had been brought forward from March 2024.

It transferred Joules’ online operations to its own in October, five months ahead of schedule.

Next said at the time that the move was aimed at securing “cost savings” at Joules, but that it would mean that “a number of tasks carried out by Joules staff will be absorbed into Next teams or will no longer be required ”.

At its peak, Joules had 132 stores and employed 1,600 people.

Shoppers can browse the full Joules collection on the website.

What other brands has Next saved?

And it is not the first time that retail giant Next has acquired a struggling company.

Made.com was taken out of administration in 2022.

Now Made.com has opened its first physical store since the acquisition.

The fashion giant also recently acquired retailer Fatface for a whopping £115.2 million.

Next’s growing list of retail acquisitions cements the group as one of the most prolific buyers of competing fashion retailers.

In 2023, Cath Kidston was bought by Next after going into administration.

Next started selling Gap clothing online at the end of 2021, after taking over the reins of the high street brand.

It then began selling Gap clothing in stores in early 2022.

A sale to buy struggling lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret was also agreed, saving its UK stores and website.

Earlier in 2022, it took a stake in baby and maternity clothing store JoJo Mama Bebe.

What else is happening on the shopping street?

Retailers have been feeling the pressure since the pandemic, as shoppers cut back on spending due to the rising cost of living.

High energy costs and the move to online shopping after the pandemic are also taking their toll, with many high street stores struggling to continue.

The high street has seen a slew of closures in the past year and more are in the pipeline.

Several major brands have also collapsed, such as Wilko and Paperchase.

Many retail chains are struggling to make ends meet, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Energy costs have risen and more consumers than ever are choosing to order online instead of going to the store.

This leaves some retailers struggling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.

Several major chains are pulling down the shutters for the last time this month.

Boots will close a further ten stores in the coming weeks.

The move by health and beauty retailer Boots is part of plans to close 300 locations.

Matalan closed one of its branches in Leeds on February 24.

main Street Designer brand Kurt Geiger has downed the shutters of its Brighton store.

Fenwick department store too closed its London flagship store on Bond Street on February 3.

Fashion chain of major brands Peacocks closed one of its branches in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, last month.

Peacocks is also shuttering its store in Camborne, Cornwall, on April 3 with “a very heavy heart”.

Entertainment retailer HMV also closed its branch in Boston, Lincolnshire on January 27.

And the catering sector has also been hit: pubs such as Wetherspoons and restaurants such as Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito have closed their doors.

In addition, a total of 56 bank branches will close their doors in March alone.

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