WHSmith’s branch in Bolton’s Crompton Place is scheduled to close on Saturday, 15 February, while its Winton branch in Bournemouth, Dorset, is also set to close on Saturday.

Four more WHSmith stores are set to shut for good in HOURS. WHSmith’s branch in Bolton’s Crompton Place is scheduled to close on Saturday, 15 February, while its Winton branch in Bournemouth, Dorset, is also set to close on Saturday.

WHSmith is also set to close its Newtown branch in Powys, as well as a fourth branch located in the Welsh town of Rhyl. Discussing the Bolton closure, WHSmith said: “We are disappointed to be losing our presence in Bolton and we would like to thank all our customers for their support and for shopping with us.”

A WHSmith spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the WHSmith store in Rhyl will be closing on Saturday, February 15, 2025.

READ MORE Warning issued to anyone who banks with Lloyds, Santander, Halifax, Barclays

“It is no longer sustainable to continue to trade from this location and the decision has been taken to close the store as a result of the forthcoming lease expiry.” A further nine WHSmith sites will close before the end of the first two financial quarters.

The closures include Accrington, Lancashire – March 15, Halstead, Essex – April, Halesowen, West Midlands – April, Diss, Norfolk – April, Newport, Wales – April, Haverhill, Suffolk – April 26, Stockton, County Durham – May, Oldham, Greater Manchester – May and Orpington, Greater London – no date given.

The boss of WHSmith has previously told the BBC that the retail giant will not be opening up any more UK high street stores.

Instead, it will be placing its focus on UK airports and train stations, as well as looking to expand in the US and Europe.

Speaking to the BBC, its chief executive Carl Cowling said: “We’ve got a very healthy high street business in the UK.

“But we’ve got no ambitions to grow that.” WHSmith currently has around 550 stores and he went on to say that opening more “would just be a duplication.”