Bargain hunters and charity shoppers are facing a massive blow as the British Heart Foundation prepares to shutter dozens of its popular stores across the country.
Known for stocking everything from pre-loved clothes and books to second-hand furniture and electricals, the high street staple is closing 87 of its locations for good. While the news marks a sad moment for regular volunteers and local communities, the charity has been forced to make some tough decisions about its retail estate following rising operational costs and changing shopping habits.
If you’re wondering whether your local branch is on the chopping block, here’s the complete list of every British Heart Foundation shop set to pull down the shutters permanently.
A massive 87 stores are closing for good.
The British Heart Foundation has confirmed that 87 of its branches will close permanently by March 2027, following a full review of its entire retail estate. This is just the first phase of a much bigger restructuring plan already underway across the charity’s shops. In total, 150 of the charity’s 640 locations are set to shut over a two-year period. The decision wasn’t taken lightly, but it was ultimately a necessary one.
The closures stretch right across the country.
These aren’t confined to one particular region or type of town, either. Branches earmarked for closure span the length and breadth of the UK, from Salford and Eccles in the north west, through to Harlow and Camden in the south east. The nationwide spread means the impact will genuinely be felt in communities of all sizes, from smaller market towns to busy city centre locations, rather than being concentrated in just one part of the country.
More closures could still follow.
Beyond the 87 confirmed branches, a further 63 stores have been identified as potentially at risk, though this second wave of closures hasn’t been finalised yet. That means the overall number of affected shops could still climb higher before the process is complete. Alongside store closures, the charity is also proposing to reduce the size of the teams and functions that support its wider retail operation, suggesting the changes go beyond just shutting individual shopfronts.
Shops will stay open as normal until they close.
For now, it’s business as usual at every branch, including those already confirmed for closure. Customers can continue to donate items and shop in store exactly as they always have, right up until each individual branch actually shuts its doors. Shutting down gradually gives local communities time to adjust, and gives the charity time to properly manage the transition rather than closing everything all at once.
The charity’s chief executive addressed the impact on staff and volunteers.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said the charity’s shops mean a great deal to colleagues, volunteers and the wider communities they serve. She described them as places where people come together to donate, shop and volunteer, all while helping fund vital work supporting people affected by heart disease.
She acknowledged that the closures will be a tough time for the dedicated staff and volunteers working in affected stores, while thanking them for everything they’ve contributed to the charity and their local communities over the years. She also pointed to a challenging overall trading environment, echoing pressures being felt across much of the wider retail sector right now.
Affected staff will be offered support and redeployment where possible.
The British Heart Foundation has said it will support every employee impacted by the closures throughout the process, with opportunities for redeployment offered wherever it’s possible to do so. This suggests the charity is aiming to retain as much of its existing workforce as it can, rather than simply letting staff go.
Volunteers working in the affected shops are expected to be offered roles elsewhere within the wider charity too, helping ensure their time and commitment isn’t lost entirely, even if their usual local branch closes.
The full list of 87 branches set to close
Armley, 32 Town Street, LS12
Aberdare, 8 Commercial Street, CF44
Alfreton, 2 Severn Square, Institute Lane, DE55
Ashton-Under-Lyne, 36 Warrington Street, OL6
Abingdon, 36 Bury Street, OX14
Ashbourne, 16 St John Street, DE6
Alfreton (Home Store), 47/51 High Street, DE55
Bedworth, 30 All Saints Square, CV12
Burnley, 86 St James’s Street, BB11
Blyth, 24 Regent Street, NE24
Beckenham, 168 High Street, BR3
Balham, 184 Balham High Road, SW12
Barnet, 123 High Street, EN5
Bath, 8 Green Street, BA1
Brighton (Home Store), 95-97 London Road, BN1
Bangor, Unit 5, The Menai Shopping Centre, LL57
Blackpool, 48-50 Church Street, FY1
Cannock, 21 Market Place, WS11
Clacton, 38 Station Road, CO15
Coalville, 28 Belvoir Shop Centre, LE67
Christchurch, 54 High Street, BH23
Cleveleys, 1 Crescent West, FY5
Consett, 6 Middle Street, DH8
Chorley, Unit 5, Market Walk, PR7
Camden, 65 High Street, NW1
Crawley (Home Store), 44-46 The Broadway, RH10
Chesterfield, 28 Middle Pavement, The Pavements Shopping Centre, S40
Chatham (Home Store), 8-9 Pentagon Centre, ME4
Dunstable, 27 Broadwalk, LU5
Durham, 79 North Road, DH1
Dumfries, 60 High Street, DG1
Dewsbury, 9 Foundry Street, WF13
Dalkeith, 3 Jarnac Court, EH22
Dumfries (Home Store), Unit 12/13, Loreburne Shopping Centre, DG1
Eastbourne, 165 Terminus Road, BN21
Elgin, 165 High Street, IV30
Eccles, 1 The Mall, M30
Finchley, 718 High Road, N12
Falmouth, 43 Market Street, TR11
Fulham, 338 North End Road, SW6
Fakenham, 10 Millers Walk, NR21
Formby, 1 The Cloisters, Halsall Lane, L37
Grays, 5 North Mall, The Grays Shopping Centre, RM17
High Wycombe, 18 White Hart Street, HP11
Hawick, 64 High Street, TD9
Harlow, 1 East Walk, CM20
Hammersmith, 127 King Street, W6
Huyton, 37 Derby Road, L36
Hornchurch, 78 High Street, RM12
Helston, 37 Meneage Street, TR13
Holsworthy, 22 The Square, EX22
Hartlepool (Home Store), 103-105 Middleton Grange, TS24
Harpurhey (Home Store), Unit A, Harpurhey Shopping Centre, M9
Hull (Home Store), 266-268 Holderness Road, HU9
Hereford, 13 Elgin Gate, HR4
Harrow (Home Store), 57 St Anne’s Road, HA1
The full list of 87 branches set to close continued…
Ilkeston, 41 Bath Street, DE7
Keighley, 12 Cooke Lane, Airedale Centre, BD21
Kendal, 30 Highgate, LA9
Long Eaton, 14 Market Place, NG10
Long Eaton (Home Store), Unit 2, Eaton Court, NG10
Llanelli (Home Store), 13 Vaughan Street, SA15
Minehead, 4 The Parade, TA24
Newbury, 5 Mansion House Street, RG14
Newton Aycliffe, 40 Beveridge Way, DL5
New Milton, 73 Station Road, BH25
Nuneaton (Home Store), 6-14 Stratford Street, CV11
Newport, 63 High Street, PO30
Ormskirk, 18 Burscough Street, L39
Plymouth, 60 Cornwall Street, PL1
Poole (Home Store), 348-350 Ashley Road Parkstone, BH14
Perry Barr (Home Store), Unit 45, One Stop SC, B42
Rhyl, 42 High Street, LL18
Rayleigh, 137 High Street, SS6
Shrewsbury, 1 Mardol/15 Claremont St, SY1
Spalding, 2/2a Market Place, PE11
South Shields, 77 King Street, NE33
Stockton-on-Tees, 119-120 High Street, TS18
Sunderland, 37 Blandford Street, SR1
Swansea, 234 Oxford Street, SA1
Salford (Home Store), 83-84 Raven Way, M6
Salisbury, 52-54 New Canal, SP1
Sutton Coldfield, Units 6-7 Red Rose Centre, B72
Uckfield, 122-126 High Street, TN22
West Bromwich (CLR), 221 High Street, B70
Worksop (Home Store), 2 Bridge Place, S80
Wrexham (Home Store), 31 Regent Street, LL11
What to do if your local branch is on the list
If you spot your regular shop somewhere on this list, continue to support it right up until closure, since every donation and purchase between now and then still goes toward the charity’s work. Staff have said stores will keep trading as normal throughout this transitional period.
For anyone hoping to keep supporting the British Heart Foundation once a local branch closes, checking for a nearby alternative store, or donating directly through the charity’s website, remains a straightforward way to keep contributing to the cause.
