Major blow to UK high street as 27 key stores announce closures in October - list

The UK high street is bracing for a wave of closures next month, with some set to shut their doors within days. The increasing rate of shop closures is being attributed to challenging economic conditions, with factors such as the rise in National Insurance for employers earlier this year being blamed.

Big-name chains including Poundland, Trespass, Sports Direct and Starbucks have all announced impending shutdowns. In a fresh blow yesterday, Starbucks revealed plans to close some UK stores following a review of its global coffee shops.

On Thursday, the company initiated a consultation over theproposed closure of several company-owned UK stores, putting employees at these sites at risk.

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However, it has not yet disclosed the number of storesthat will be affected, their locations, or the number of workers who will be impacted.

Poundland

Discount chain Poundland is set to close its Liscard, Tenby, Livingston and Lowestoft stores in October.

Poundland closures:

• Liscard October 1
• Lowestoft October 10.
• Livingston October 12
• Tenby October 18.
• Inverness October 12.

Poundland, which employs over 14,000 staff, has faced financial difficulties in recent years. Major sports retailer Sports Direct is also planning to close one of its stores next month. The Rhyl store in North Wales is set to permanently close its doors in October, although an exact closure date has not been confirmed.

The shop has already launched a 30% off closing down sale.

Sports Direct

Sports Direct also closed its Central Six Retail Park store in Coventry at the end of January. Last year, its outlets in Stroud, Gloucestershire, and on Octagon Parade in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, closed their doors for good.

Trespass

• Watford October 31.

The retailer has rolled out an "everything must go" sale before shutting down, offering bargain hunters the chance to snap up deals.

Starbucks

Starbucks is preparing to shutter several UK outlets following a comprehensive review of its worldwide coffee shop portfolio. The firm has begun consultation proceedings regarding the proposed closure of numerous company-operated UK branches, placing staff at these locations in jeopardy.

Nevertheless, the coffee giant has remained tight-lipped about exactly how many outlets will be impacted, their specific locations, and the number of employees facing redundancy.

The hospitality enterprise operates approximately 520 company-owned outlets across the UK, alongside franchise-operated coffee shops.

It's believed that over 5,600 individuals are employed by Starbucks throughout the UK. The chain explained it intends to shut locations where it hasn't managed to "create the physical environment customers" desire, and where operations aren't sustainably profitable.

The coffee retailer has confirmed it remains on course to launch 80 fresh Starbucks locations in the UK and maintains its dedication to the nation.

Natwest

Banking behemoth Natwest has similarly revealed a series of closures this month, with 20 branches disappearing.

NatWest bank branch closures in October 2025

• Leamington Spa, Royal Priors, 59 Parade, Leamington Spa, CV32 4ZX - October 1
• Ringwood, 11 High Street, Ringwood, BH24 1BA - October 1
• Paignton, 15 Victoria Street, Paignton, TQ4 5DE - October 2
• Stevenage, 26-28 Queensway, Stevenage, SG1 1BS - October 7
• Wellingborough, 40 Market Street, Wellingborough, NN8 1AD - October 7
• Midsomer Norton, 3 High Street, Radstock, BA3 2LE - October 8
• Stratford-upon-Avon, 31 Rother Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon, CV37 6ZS - October 8
• Romsey, 27 Market Place, Romsey, SO51 8ZH - October 13
• Neath, 35 Green Street, Neath, SA11 1DB - October 13
• Redditch, Church Green House, Church Green East, Redditch, B98 8DG - October 14
• Lowestoft, 53 London Road North, Lowestoft, NR32 1BJ - October 15
• Chippenham, 30 High Street, Chippenham, SN15 3HB, October 15
• Trowbridge, 62 Fore Street, Trowbridge, BA14 8EX, October 16
• Honiton, 94 High Street, Honiton, EX14 1JL, October 21
• Mold, 48-50 High Street, Mold, CH7 1BA, October 21
• Dorchester, 49 South Street, Dorchester, DT1 1DW, October 22
• Bridgwater, 9 York Buildings, Bridgwater, TA6 3BS, October 27
• Kettering, 16 High Street, Kettering, NN16 8SZ, October 28
• Leighton Buzzard, 27 High Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1DX, October 28
• Bridport, 22 East Street, Bridport, DT6 3LG, October 29