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A range of high street shops fell victim to widespread store closures last year, from fashion brands to the pharmacy giant Boots.
Now in the latest wave of action, Costa Coffee has joined the budget supermarket Lidl in axing sites across the UK.
Matalan and WHSmith will follow suit, with some branches set to be axed as early as next week.
Retailers constantly review where the business needs are which often leads to the closures of long-standing branches and in some cases, the opening of brand-new sites.
In the case of Boots, the health and beauty giant first confirmed in June 2023 that it would reduce its number of shops around the country by 300 – from 2,200 stores nationwide to 1,900.
Boots
The popular pharmacy chain has closed several stores in recent months and more are to follow this February as part of its restructure.
Widespread closures will “consolidate the business” by axing sites where an alternative shop is already situated less than three miles away.
Just yesterday, customers in Hough Lane, Leyland, lost their local branch. Two more branches will follow suit, including Boots in Wood Street, Swindon, on February 9, and Clifton, York, on February 17.
A fourth store in Landford Road, Liverpool, will also close later this month, though no exact date has been confirmed.
Lidl
The budget supermarket has confirmed the loss of two stores this month. However, shoppers will be pleased to know that they can still visit nearby locations.
Those local to the store in Kentish Town Road, London, will see the branch close its doors for good on February 11. Lidl will then lose its Thornaby store in Stockton-on-Tees later on February 29.
It’s not all bad news though as the retailer has also shared plans to open 1,100 stores by the end of next year.
Costa Coffee
Costa is focusing on the expansion of its drive-thru sites, of which there are already 300 across the UK. It does, however, mean that some high street stores will be closed as a result.
The first branch in Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, will shut on February 14, followed by the site on Chiswick High Road, London, though an exact date is yet to be announced.
WHSmith
The high street giant, which opened its first store in 1792, significantly changed its property portfolio in 2020. While the retailer once operated large shops which sold everything from stationery to books, it has since become a staple outlet in airports, hospitals, and railway stations.
As part of ongoing changes to its store estate, the retailer will lose its branch on George Street in Oban on February 17. In December it was announced the store on Pool Street in Caernarfon would close this month, however, this could be stopped after reports of talks to halt the closure.
Matalan
Matalan fans who frequent the site at the Core Shopping Centre in Leeds will have to bid farewell to it later this month.
The branch will shut its doors for good on Saturday, February 24, from which point colleagues will have to find other positions in other stores.
A spokesperson said: “We are working closely with our affected colleagues and doing all we can to find suitable positions in our local store network. Customers in the area will still be able to access our full range of products via our website.”
