More high street store closures are coming up next month (Picture: Reuters)
The future of the high street looks increasingly uncertain as a fresh wave of store closures is set to take place next month.
The demise of the high street has been ongoing for a while,compounded by the coronavirus pandemic.
Britain’s high streets face an exodus of shops. Long queues are rare now,while to let signs and boarded windows are a more common sight as shoppers are choosing to buy online instead.
The recent spate of closures includes WHSmith high street stores,Wilko and River Island. Banks like NatWest,Santander,Halifax and Lloyds have axed hundreds of branches this year.
Some studies have estimated that Britain lost up to 37 shops a day in 2024.
Paddy Power is set to close 57 retail outlets (Picture: John Walton/PA Wire)
Paddy Power is set to close 57 of its retail outlets across the UK after a review of its high street estate.
The announcement of the closure of the gambling shops has caused concern over the future of other high street betting shops.
The Chancellor’s November budget is rumoured to raise tax levels for UK operators.
Paddy Power said 247 staff are at risk of redundancy,with 128 of those in the UK and 119 in the Republic of Ireland.
Ann’s Cottage Surf Shop in Padstow town centre (Picture: Martin Berry/Alamy Stock Photo)
Ann’s Cottage,known for its surf and lifestyle clothing and accessories,is closing its flagship store.
The store in Falmouth,Cornwall,is set to close on Sunday,November 9,just months after the brand shut its Wadebridge store.
There are now seven Ann’s Cottage locations left across Cornwall.
A notice on the window of the store said: ‘Thanks staff and customers for their support over the years.
‘After many wonderful years,we’re sadly closing our Falmouth store.
‘We want to express our deepest gratitude to all our amazing customers for their loyalty and support over the years.
‘It’s been a privilege to be part of this community,and we’re especially thankful to our fabulous Falmouth team for all their dedication and hard work.’
But it’s not all doom and gloom for the high street as Gap is set to reopen.
Gap is set to return to the UK high street after closing all of its 81 stores in 2021.
Gap’s Oxford Street store in London before the fashion chain closed all of its stores. (Picture: Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)
The fashion chain was incredibly popular during the 1980s and 1990s but decided to close its high street stores in a bid to become a digital-first brand.
Drapers has reported that the fashion brand will be opening three stores in Covent Garden on November 3,Westfield London in December 4 and Wembley Park on December 12.
United News - unews.co.za