A major high street retailer has confirmed it’s closing more than a dozen stores this month.
The announcement serves as yet another blow to shoppers already facing a wave of high street closures. TG Jones, the stationery and book chain formerly known as WH Smith, is shutting 19 shops across the UK this month as part of a wider restructuring plan aimed at keeping the company out of administration.
How many stores are closing in total?
Owner Modella plans to close 150 of the retailer’s 450 shops under its restructuring plans. Only the first 19 of those closures have been confirmed so far, all landing in September, meaning the vast majority of the 150 planned closures are still to be announced in the months ahead.
Affected shops have already launched closing down sales, while the TG Jones website is also offering online discounts on books, stationery, and LEGO sets for anyone hoping to grab a bargain before stock runs out.
The full list of stores closing this September
Bath – 1 September
Redcar, North Yorkshire – 5 September
Redhill, Surrey – 5 September
Market Harborough, Leicestershire – 12 September
Uckfield, East Sussex – 12 September
Cambridge – 14 September
Swindon – 15 September
Helston, Cornwall – 16 September
Deal, Kent – 19 September
Basildon, Essex – 21 September
Rustington, West Sussex – 23 September
Clevedon, North Somerset – 26 September
Greenford, London – 26 September
Kenilworth, Warwickshire – 26 September
Southend-on-Sea, Essex – 26 September
Exmouth, Devon – 28 September
Frome, Somerset – 30 September
Cardigan, Wales – date unconfirmed
Wells, Somerset – date unconfirmed
A further closure beyond September has also been confirmed, with the Maldon High Street store in Essex set to shut on 9 October.
Why the WH Smith name disappeared in the first place
WH Smith was purchased last year by private equity firm Modella Capital, which also owns Hobbycraft and previously owned Claire’s Accessories before that business collapsed. Following the purchase, Modella made the decision to rebrand all WH Smith shops, excluding airport and railway station branches, under the new TG Jones name.
When sales subsequently fell, Modella warned the business could face insolvency unless its restructuring plan was approved. That plan, which involves closing stores, writing off debt, and cutting rents for landlords, has since been given the go-ahead.
What to expect from TG Jones in the coming months
With only 19 of the planned 150 closures confirmed so far, shoppers and staff at other TG Jones branches are likely facing an anxious wait to find out whether their local store will be next on the list. Further waves of closures are expected to be announced in stages as the restructuring plan progresses.
Anyone hoping to avoid losing their nearest branch may want to keep an eye on future announcements from the company, since the current list represents only around 13% of the total closures planned under the restructuring programme.
The wider picture on UK high streets right now
TG Jones is far from alone in announcing closures this month, with retailers, restaurants, pubs, and banks all continuing to shut premises across the country. September alone will see Premier Inn owner Whitbread close close to 200 of its restaurants and pubs, including well-known names like Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table, Cookhouse + Pub, and Bar + Block.
Elsewhere, corner shop chain Foreways is closing all five of its locations in Carlisle, Cumbria, while Morrisons is shutting around 100 of its Daily convenience store branches over the coming months, with some already closed. Luxury accessories brand Radley has shut all of its stores entirely, as has Quiz Clothing, and bookmaker Betfred has warned it may need to close more than 100 betting shops too, painting a difficult picture for the UK high street heading into autumn.
