Argos, WHSmith and Clarks to axe more shops – full list of closures

Argos

The iconic catalogue retailer has confirmed the closure of 100 stores throughout the year.

In its latest wave of retail action, Argos will close its standalone store in Kingstown, Carlisle before the end of the month. While an exact date is yet to be given, it’s part of plans for its owner, Sainsbury’s, to have just 160 standalone stores and 430 to 460 Argos counters inside its supermarkets by the end of March.

Last year the high street giant shut 47 shops including all 34 branches in the Republic of Ireland in June. More recently, Argos axed its branch at the Overgate in Dundee city centre.

Peacocks

The affordable fashion brand will drop more stores from its portfolio, with the first to go on March 23 in Ashford, Kent.

The chain has around 350 stores in the UK but has scaled back in recent years. Just after Easter, Peacocks will pull down the shutters on its store in Camborne, Cornwall on April 3.

It comes after the high street staple closed its branch in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk on January 25

Clarks

Clarks fans in East Grinstead will see their nearest store shut down for good this weekend. After closing its Witham store in January, the shoe shop giant will follow suit with another on March 24.

Employees affected by the closure are reportedly in a period of consultation with the company and have been thanked by Clarks’ bosses for their service over the years. A third branch in Maidenhead has also been earmarked to shut in June.

WHSmith

The retail giant has confirmed the imminent closure of one of its stores in Berkshire. WHSmith announced that its busy high-street shop in Slough would open for the final time in May.

A WHSmith spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the WHSmith store in Slough will be closing on Saturday, May 11. 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.”

It’s not just stationary and books that shoppers will lose out on, as the Post Office branch inside will also be axed. Locals will now have to take their baskets and letters elsewhere.

Sports Direct

The popular sports store has 500 branches but is set to close one of its sites permanently. Sports Direct will pull down the shutters at its shop on Octagon Parade in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

It’s not all bad news though as a new Sports Direct store will open in the former Zara unit in the Eden Shopping Centre on April 19

A spokesperson for Frasers Group who owns Sports Direct told The Sun: “The Sports Direct store will give High Wycombe customers access to the world’s best sports and lifestyle brands, as well as offer other brands from the Frasers Group ecosystem, including USC and GAME.”

The closure comes just days after the town lost their local Body Shop branch on March 20.

New Look

New Look also closed down one of its stores this week in Cumbernauld, Scotland. The fashion outlet locked its doors for good on March 20, marking another tally in the 400 sites which have closed.

Commenting on the closure, a spokesperson for the retailer said: “As part of the normal course of business, New Look occasionally closes stores, while also undertaking relocations and new site openings.”

The Works

The beloved budget stationery retailer is set to close another store this summer.

Shoppers who frequent The Works in Dereham will see it go in May this year but it will be opening other stores elsewhere.It follows the closure of the branch in Caernarfon, Wales, which shut its doors for good on March 18.