A major high street retailer has announced it is shutting over a dozen shops this month in another blow to UK shoppers.
Stationery and bookshop chain TG Jones, formerly known as WH Smith, is closing a total of 19 shops across the UK as part of restructuring plans to prevent the retail chain from falling into administration.
Owner Modella will close 150 of the retail chain’s 450 shops under its restructuring plans, and the first 19 closures have been confirmed for this month.
The shops affected have all launched closing-down sales for customers, while the TG Jones website offers online discounts on books, stationery and LEGO sets.
So which locations are shutting?
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Every TG Jones shop closing this month
Of the 19 shops due to close in September, one – the TG Jones located in Bath – has already shut. The others marked for closure in the coming weeks include:
- Bath: September 1
- Redcar, North Yorkshire: September 5
- Redhill, Surrey: September 5
- Market Harborough, Leicestershire: September 12
- Uckfield, East Sussex: September 12
- Cambridge: September 14
- Swindon: September 15
- Helston, Cornwall: September 16
- Deal, Kent: September 19
- Basildon, Essex: September 21
- Rustington, West Sussex: September 23
- Clevedon, North Somerset: September 26
- Greenford, London: September 26
- Kenilworth, Warwickshire: September 26
- Southend-on-Sea, Essex: September 26
- Exmouth, Devon: September 28
- Frome, Somerset: September 30
- Cardigan, Wales: Unconfirmed
- Wells, Somerset: Unconfirmed
An additional closure beyond September has also been confirmed. The Maldon High Street store in Essex, which will shut on October 9.
Last year, WH Smith was purchased by private equity firm Modella Capital, which owns Hobbycraft and previously owned Claire’s Accessories before its collapse.
What else is happening on the UK high street?
It’s a turbulent time for high street shoppers as more and more retailers, banks, restaurants and pubs announce closures.
September alone will see Premier Inn owner Whitbread shut close to 200 of its popular restaurants and pubs, including Beefeater and Brewers Fayre, as well as Table Table, Cookhouse + Pub, and Bar + Block.
Meanwhile, corner shop chain Foreways is closing all five of its locations in Carlisle, Cumbria, and Morrisons is closing 100 of its Daily convenience store branches in the coming months, with some already shut.
Luxury accessories brand Radley has also shut all of its branches, alongside Quiz Clothing, and Betfred has warned that it may have to close over 100 betting shops.
Following the purchase, Modella notably chose to rebrand all WH Smith shops, excluding those in airports and at train stations, into TG Jones.
When sales fell, Modella warned it could face insolvency if its now-approved restructuring plan, which involves closing stores, writing off debt, and cutting rent for landlords, was not approved.
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