Full list of 13 high street stores shutting in May in blow to shoppers – is your area affected?

MAJOR retailers are closing more of their stores down for good this month as high streets continue to struggle.

Last month’s Awful April saw an increase in costs for businesses as the Government’s Budget changes came into effect.

Some 13 high street shops have been announced for closure in May as retailers struggle with rising costs

They’re facing a perfect storm of a rise in employer National Insurance contributions, increased energy and rent costs, and lower customer footfall.

It’s meant some retailers have been forced to hike prices and review their stores and expansion plans.

Big-name brands like WHSmith, Sainsbury’s, Iceland and The Entertainer are among those that have shuttered stores this year so far.

But it’s worth noting that retailers regularly open and close shops for a number of reasons, not just because they are struggling.

For example, they may have a store nearby that is performing better or it may be that they want to move to a spot that has higher footfall, such as a retail park.

Here are all the shops we know are shutting in May 2025.

WHSmith

The stationery retailer has sold off almost 500 of its high street shops after being taken over by Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital.

The WHSmith name is set to disappear from the high street completely, with the brand instead focusing on its shops in travel hubs.

Branches in Halstead and Woolwich shut earlier this month, and a further three are closing in May.

The Oldham branch in Greater Manchester will be the first to go on May 3.

Stockton in County Durham will lose its store on May 17, while the branch in the Frenchgate Centre in Doncaster will close on May 31.

The Entertainer

The Entertainer might be the UK’s biggest toy retailer, but it has shut a number of outlets over the past six months.

The next to go will be the store in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, which is closing for good on May 3.

The store had been in the area since 2017.

Keith Stenhouse, head of region at The Entertainer, said: “We are sad to be closing our Barrow in Furness store as of 3rd May and would like to thank our customers and staff for their loyalty and support.

“We’re proud of the service we’ve offered and are committed to supporting our employees through this situation.”

He explained that the company had to, very rarely, look at shutting standalone stores that were “no longer profitable”.

The Entertainer currently has more than 160 stores across the UK.

Morrisons

The major supermarket announced last month it would close 17 of its smaller Daily convenience stores as part of a major shake-up.

It also said it would be closing a number of its cafes, Market Kitchens, florists, meat counters, fish counters and pharmacies.

Most of its Daily stores earmarked for closure shut on April 16, but the Haxby store is not closing until May 14.

The closures also saw 11 Post Offices at risk of being lost.

Morrisons has said that 365 workers were left at risk of redundancy.

Poundland

Struggling chain Poundland has faced slowing sales, with its profits falling by £641million late last year.

It has been forced to make a series of store closures and its parent company Pepco has been looking at a potential sale of the business.

The latest store set to close is inside Liverpool‘s Belle Vale Shopping Centre.

It will be shutting on May 6.

A spokesperson for Poundland said the store had been served notice on the lease.

He said: “We know how disappointing this will be to customers and colleagues.

“Whenever we have to close a store in these circumstances, we do all we can to look for other opportunities for colleagues and that work is now underway.

“We’d like to thank customers at Belle Vale for their support – and look forward to welcoming them at our other stores across Merseyside.”

Shoe Zone

The discount footwear retailer has said it’s been forced to shut branches due to “challenging trading conditions” and rising costs.

The company saw profits before tax slump by 40% in 2023.

A spokesperson previously said a combination of rising business rates, wage increases, and difficult weather conditions had made some stores “unviable”.

Another of its stores will be closing on May 13.

The Bexhill store on Devonshire Road has been advertising its closure since November.

Next

One of Next’s outlet stores will be closing on May 24.

The store in Darlington Retail Park will be shutting for good, although Next’s standard format store in Darlington at the Cornmill Centre will remain open.

The budget store had operated from the retail park since 2021.

Next warned of potential store closures last year after losing a landmark legal case over equal pay.

In January, it also told shoppers it may have to increase prices following the chancellor’s hike to employer National Insurance contributions.

It estimated the change would add £67million to its cost base.

Wetherspoons

Spoons will be closing a city-centre pub on May 25.

The Spon Gate in Coventry is named after one of the 12 gates in the city’s medieval wall.

Its closure will leave punters with just two other Wetherspoons pubs in Coventry.

It is understood staff will be offered roles elsewhere in the business.

A spokesperson for Wetherspoons said: “It is a commercial decision taken by Wetherspoon.

“We thank all our staff and customers over the years.”

Smiggle

Smiggle’s store in Inverness, Scotland, has announced it will be closing for good on May 21.

The stationery brand is known for its rainbow-coloured pens, lunch boxes and backpacks.

The Inverness store, which is inside the Eastgate Shopping Centre, has launched a 50% off sale ahead of the closure.

A worker told the Press and Journal that the store may close sooner if its products sell out.

It is understood the shop is closing because its lease has expired and Smiggle has chosen not to renew it.

Smiggle – which launched in Australia in 2003 – arrived in the UK in 2014 and quickly became a favourite among school-age kids thanks to its fun, colourful ranges.

It currently has 107 branches in the UK.

Beales

One of the UK’s oldest department stores is shutting its last remaining shop on May 14.

Beales first opened in Bournemouth in 1881 and has said trading at its branch in Poole’s Dolphin Centre will cease at the end of May.

Chief executive Tony Brown told the Telegraph the business had become “unviable” following the tax and wage increases introduced in the Budget.

“This, coupled with the risks and uncertainty of further tax increases in the coming years, have left us no other option,” he said.

“We have been working with the Dolphin Centre, who have been supportive, along with our investors to ensure an orderly exit.”

Beales entered into administration in January 2020, leading to the closure of 22 of its 23 shops.

The Meat Shack

Fast food spot The Meat Shack on Birmingham’s Thorp Street has announced it is closing after eight years.

The popular restaurant, which began as a pop up, will close on May 10.

Owners Paul and Cat said they would be scouting for a new home for its relocation.

“We managed to survive Covid and all the latest ups and downs of running a small business in this mad world we are all now living in, but this one is out of our hands, the lease has come to an end and the site is up for demolition/redevelopment so our time here has finally ran its course,” they explained.

Trade Me In

A popular trade-in store in St John’s Shopping Centre, Leeds, will be closing next month too.

Trade Me In said it will be shutting permanently on May 31.

Its owner shared a statement on social media announcing the closure and blamed “big companies filling high streets”.

They said: “Though it’s undeniably sad to see TMI come to an end, it’s important to remember the significance of shopping at small businesses.

“Soon the high street will be filled with nothing but big companies, so support your local coffee house, support your indie markets, support your small businesses because they’re all struggling right now.”