High street blow as 27 major stores closing ‘in days’ in October 2025

The UK high street is facing a number of closures next month, with some coming within days. Shops are closing down at an increasing rate due to economic conditions, with some blaming costs such as the increase in National Insurance for employers earlier this year.

Big name chains such as Poundland, Trespass, Sports Direct and Starbucks have all announced shutdowns. In a new blow yesterday Starbucks said it is to close some UK stores following a review of its global coffee shops.

On Thursday, the company launched a consultation over the proposed closure of a number of company-owned UK stores, putting workers at the sites at risk.

However, it did not disclose how many stores will be affected, where these are located and how many workers will be affected.

Poundland

Discount chain Poundland is shutting its Liscard, Tenby, Livingston and Lowestoft stores in October.

Poundland closures:

Liscard October 1
Lowestoft October 10.
Livingston October 12
Tenby October 18.
Inverness October 12.

The stores have already launched big closing down sales to get rid of their stock with some offering up to 40 per cent off.

Poundland, which employs more than 14,000 staff, has struggled financially in recent years.

Sports Direct

Huge sports retailer Sports Direct is also shutting one of its stores next month.

The Rhyl store in North Wales will be pulling the shutters down permanently in October but an exact closure date has not yet been confirmed.

The shop has already kicked off a 30% off closing down sale.

Sports Direct also pulled the plug on its Central Six Retail Park store in Coventry at the end of January.

Last year, its branches in Stroud, Gloucestershire, and on Octagon Parade in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, shut permanently.

Trespass

Watford October 31.

Outdoor clothing and equipment retailer Trespass will close its Watford store on October 31. The shop is located on the upper mall level of Harlequin Watford shopping centre.

It has launched an “everything must go” sale ahead of its closure so that shoppers can grab a bargain.

Starbucks is to close some UK stores following a review of its global coffee shops. The company launched a consultation over the proposed closure of a number of company-owned UK stores, putting workers at the sites at risk.

However, it did not disclose how many stores will be affected, where these are located and how many workers will be affected.

The hospitality business runs around 520 company-owned stores in the UK, as well as franchise-owned coffee shops.

It is understood more than 5,600 people work for Starbucks across the UK. The chain said it is planning to close sites where it has not been able to “create the physical environment customers” want, and where they are not sustainably profitable.

The coffee chain has said it is still on track to open 80 new Starbucks sites in the UK and is committed to the country.

Natwest

Banking giant Natwest has also announced a string of closures this month, with 20 branches going.

NatWest bank branch closures in October 2025

Leamington Spa, Royal Priors, 59 Parade, Leamington Spa, CV32 4ZX – October 1
Ringwood, 11 High Street, Ringwood, BH24 1BA – October 1
Paignton, 15 Victoria Street, Paignton, TQ4 5DE – October 2
Stevenage, 26-28 Queensway, Stevenage, SG1 1BS – October 7
Wellingborough, 40 Market Street, Wellingborough, NN8 1AD – October 7
Midsomer Norton, 3 High Street, Radstock, BA3 2LE – October 8
Stratford-upon-Avon, 31 Rother Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon, CV37 6ZS – October 8
Romsey, 27 Market Place, Romsey, SO51 8ZH – October 13
Neath, 35 Green Street, Neath, SA11 1DB – October 13
Redditch, Church Green House, Church Green East, Redditch, B98 8DG – October 14
Lowestoft, 53 London Road North, Lowestoft, NR32 1BJ – October 15
Chippenham, 30 High Street, Chippenham, SN15 3HB, October 15
Trowbridge, 62 Fore Street, Trowbridge, BA14 8EX, October 16
Honiton, 94 High Street, Honiton, EX14 1JL, October 21
Mold, 48-50 High Street, Mold, CH7 1BA, October 21
Dorchester, 49 South Street, Dorchester, DT1 1DW, October 22
Bridgwater, 9 York Buildings, Bridgwater, TA6 3BS, October 27
Kettering, 16 High Street, Kettering, NN16 8SZ, October 28
Leighton Buzzard, 27 High Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1DX, October 28
Bridport, 22 East Street, Bridport, DT6 3LG, October 29