Full list of store closures in March 2025 from WHSmith to New Look

Posted by author February 24, 2025 Shopping

Several well-known names are closing stores in March (Picture: Getty/Shutterstock)

As we roll into March it’s another bleak month for the high street, with several stores set to shut their doors for good.

January and February has already seen scores of closures across the country, including 33 branches of DIY favourite, Homebase and several New Look and WHSmith outlets.

This month will see more branches of the latter two shut, while other names saying goodbye to stores include Greggs, Dobbies and Select Fashion.

Last year was one of the worst ever recorded for the British high street, with over 13,000 store closures from big brands reported.

The Centre for Retail Research predicts 2025 will be even worse, with 17,349 closures predicted.

Here’s a look at the full list of UK shops set to close in March.

New Look

Clothing chain New Look recently announced plans to close 100 of its stores.

It has already shut stores in the Carillon Court Shopping Centre in Loughborough, Leicestershire, and Porth in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.

The next store facing the axe will be the St Austell branch in Cornwall,closing on March 4.

This will be followed by the branch in Team Valley Retail World in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, closing on March 9.

New Look bosses had been planning to make closures for some time but accelerated the move and upped the numbers after announcements in the Autumn Budget, including a 6.7% rise in the minimum wage.

The retailer is also winding down its entire operation in the Republic of Ireland, with closing-down sales launched across the country yesterday.

It’s understood the stores will remain open until stock in cleared.

WHSmith

WHSmith is in the process of closing several of its high street stores, which have struggled in recent years.

The next store to go is in Accrington, Lancashire, set to shut on March 15, after its lease expires.

The company has already shut stores in Bolton, Bournemouth and Boscombe in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, branches in Essex, Suffolk, Suffolk, the West Midlands and Newport are set for closure next month.

WHSmith wants to focus on its shops in airports and train stations, which are far more successful, and plans to open 110 more in these locations.

It also plans to start selling vinyl, which has seen a surge in popularity, as well as Toys R Us products.

Dobbies

Dobbies Garden Centres has already closed 16 of its outlets since mid-December after falling customer numbers.

The store in Aylesbury is due to shut at the end of February (exact date not given), although there are reports in the Bucks Herald it’s been bought by another company.

The next store set to close is the Northampton branch, but it will be taken over by the family-run British Garden Centres, who will retain the current staff.

It will close as Dobbies on March 2 and be shut temporarily as the site is rebranded and restocked. It’s not yet clear when it will open under the new ownership.

Greggs

Bakery chain Greggs is shutting one of its Cambridge stores – in Fitzroy Street – on March 31.

A branch in Amersham, Buckinghamshire and one in Foleshill Road, Coventry, closed in January.

Greggs fans fear not, this doesn’t appear to be part of a widespread cull, with the retailer actually planning to open more stores this year.

The company has over 2,500 outlets across the UK, including 500 with franchise partners such as petrol stations.

Outdoor clothing store with more than 300 shops to close branch — Trespass have closed a small number of shops in the last six months (Picture: Getty Images)

Trespass

Outdoor clothing chain Trespass is shutting its store in Highcross shopping centre in Leicester on March 31.

A closing down sale has been launched, with 60% reductions on some items.

It comes weeks after Trespass revealed its branch at Hillstree Shopping Centre in Middlesborough would close for good, just two years after opening.

The retailer, which has around 300 stores, has also shut branches in Norwich, Sutton Coldfield and Coventry in the last six months.

Iconic outdoor clothes retailer with more than 300 shops to close store — Select Fashion is shutting a number of its stores (Picture: Shutterstock/Tupungato)

Select Fashion

British clothing chain Select Fashion has begun closing several of its stores.

At least two stores – Merthyr Tydfil in Wales and Wellingborough in North Northamptonshire – will shut in March, with the later closing on March 15.

Many of the other affected stores are in towns and cities in northern England including Southshields, Peterlee, Thornaby, Hartlepool, Scarborough, Hull, Ashington and Scunthorpe.

Stores in Wolverhampton and Kidderminster already closed in January.

It has already shuttered branches in Wolverhampton and Kidderminster in January.

The brand, which has over 100 stores, fell into administration in 2019, but was bought out by Genus UK Limited.

Scope

Disability charity Scope announced in January it is considering closing 77 of its shops.

Chief executive Mark Hodgkinson said: ‘Despite our teams’ best efforts our shops are collectively now losing money when taking account of all of their costs.

‘A number make strong profits but there are loss making shops too.

‘We will be putting forward proposals to close some of our shops, in stages, over the next 18 months.’

The proposal includes three phases, with shops shutting when their leases come to an end.

This would see 41 shops close by the end of March, another 31 shut between April 1 and March 31, 2026 and a final four close after that.