A popular homeware brand will close a London branch within days as part of 23 UK closures. Topps Tiles has slashed product prices at its Cheam store ahead of its last day on August 7, as it seeks to save money across the estate with a wider closure programme.

Locals reported “everything must go” signs appeared in the windows of the popular branch, which was described as “great” with “helpful” staff. This closure is part of a wider list of 23 set to shut this year. In April, the brand confirmed it would shut 15 more stores this year, on top of eight previously confirmed, representing 7% of its estate.

He said: “In light of subdued consumer sentiment and geopolitical uncertainty, as well as the cumulative impact of cost inflation, the management team is implementing a targeted programme of self-help measures weighted towards the second half.”

The group, based in Enderby, Leicestershire, said sales fell 0.1% to £142.7million in the six months to March 28, with revenues impacted by a “lengthy” competition process and disposal programme following its purchase of competitor CTD Tiles in 2024.

It had bought competitor CTD out of administration in 2024, but a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) probe forced Topps Tiles to sell off several branches due to competition concerns. The company also bought rival Fired Earth out of administration in December 2025 for £3million.

Store closures are no longer just a problem facing Britain’s high streets. Across the world, major retailers are shutting branches as rising costs, changing shopping habits and economic pressures continue to reshape the industry. Now, one of America’s biggest supermarket chains, particularly in the Northeast, is pressing ahead with another wave of closures.

Over the past 18 months, a major US grocery chain Stop & Shop has closed dozens of locations and will continue with the closures throughout the year. At least four more Stop & Shop locations will disappear as part of the company’s broader push to improve performance. Across the northeastern US, Stop & Shop has more than 350 stores spanning five states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. The retailer offers groceries, pharmaceutical needs, and home delivery.

A Stop & Shop spokesperson told Inc.: “Each decision was made independently and is not part of a broader plan to close multiple locations. We do not have plans to close additional stores in this market at this time.”

The added that all the affected employees at the closing stores will be given the option to transfer to other locations within the company. However, the closures will affect the towns with fewer grocery options, forcing residents to rely on alternative stores further away.

Earlier this year, Stop & Shop also shut seven e-commerce fulfillment warehouses across four states, shifting instead toward having store-level employees fulfill online orders directly.

It comes amid rising grocery prices due to increased operations costs. In June, grocery bills in the US rose 2.7%, according to the Consumer Price Index and are expected to rise 2.9% in 2027, according to a US Department of Agriculture forecast.

The Halifax brand is changing to Lloyds, with the vast majority of Halifax branches either rebranding to Lloyds or closing, as customers will be served by an existing Lloyds branch in that community. Customers will be contacted directly by Halifax if there are any changes to their branch. Halifax is one of Britain’s best-known banking brands and was founded in West Yorkshire in 1853. The Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance says the closures are “creating real barriers to everyday financial independence” for thousands of pensioners, noting that many still rely on face-to-face banking.

1. Barrow-in-Furness: 10/09/2026
2. Basingstoke: 30/09/2026
3. Bury St Edmunds: 30/09/2026
4. Cannock: 09/09/2026
5. Canterbury: 28/09/2026
6. Durham: 29/09/2026
7. Ealing Broadway: 29/09/2026
8. Guildford: 24/09/2026
9. High Wycombe: 30/09/2026
10. Horsham: 08/09/2026
11. London – Camden Town: 24/09/2026
12. Milton Keynes: 23/09/2026
13. North Finchley: 28/09/2026
14. Wimbledon: 28/09/2026
15. Woking: 23/09/2026

Halifax announced just weeks ago that it was phasing out the brand after 173 years. Lloyds Banking Group has owned Halifax since 2009 and confirmed the move.

Lloyds Banking Group’s chief executive of consumer relationships, Jas Singh, said at the time: “As Halifax changes to Lloyds, our Halifax customers will keep everything they know and love today – the same fantastic app design, the same friendly faces in our branches – even the same sort code and account number.”

Halifax had shut down 25 branches throughout the month of June. It said in response to closures: “Branch decisions are based on a range of factors, including how customers are choosing to bank and the availability of nearby services. You can find information about branch closures and alternative banking options here.”

Halifax is set to close more branches in October and November.

A major UK kitchen company is closing down 15 of its sites as part of its restructuring programme. Magnet Kitchens operates 159 showrooms across the UK and has confirmed it will axe 15 of them as part of a proposed company voluntary arrangement (CVA). The insolvency process aims to help Magnet negotiate with creditors and reduce property costs that are “no longer sustainable”, while permitting the wider business to continue trading.

The proposals remain subject to creditor approval and are being overseen by Natasha Harbinson, Will Wright and Chris Pole from restructuring firm Interpath, Retail Gazette reports.

Magnet has already closed the first of the 15. Its Watford branch, located at Caxton Way, shut on July 14, with existing orders being transferred to its nearby stores in St Albans and Harrow.

The retailer said impacted staff would be supported with alternative roles offered elsewhere in the business wherever possible.

Magnet chief executive Sophie Rose said: “This is a difficult decision and not one we have taken lightly, particularly where colleagues may be impacted.

“But taking this action now is the right thing to do for the long-term health of Magnet Group. It allows us to deal with property costs that are no longer sustainable and protect the stronger parts of our estate.”

She explained that removing the weighing costs from the business would allow it to focus its investment on other areas offering the greatest opportunities for growth and to improve profits.

Ms Rose continued: “I am confident these proposals will help Magnet Group build a stronger, more resilient business that is better placed to serve customers, support partners and return to sustainable profitability.”

Magnet has reassured customers that they will continue to receive uninterrupted service during the restructuring. Orders from closed showrooms will be handled by the nearest alternative branch.

A UK housebuilder has plunged into administration following seven years of business. The company has been hit by a number of industry financial pressures, including soaring building, energy, and labour costs.

Agile Property and Homes, known as Agile, is a low-carbon modular housebuilder and developer based across Bristol and Oxfordshire. It specialises in sustainable, flat-pack fabricated homes using natural and renewable materials. It was founded on March 20, 2019, but appointed Andrew Pear and Richard Keley, of Moorfields Advisory, as administrators on July 6. The news comes a year after the company’s chief executive, Craig White, told industry publication Inside Housing that it had “the proven model to tackle the UK’s housing crisis at low cost and speed”.

As reported by The Telegraph, Mr Pear noted the rising cost of energy, labour and raw materials as one of the reasons for its collapse. The building industry has also faced years of pressure due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Mr Pear said: “The sector is struggling due to cost inflation. Inputs into the business have gone up in price substantially. That’s also created affordability issues for the whole property market.”

The Labour Government aims to build 1.5 million homes by 2029, but is currently falling short of its target. Despite the need to build 300,000 homes per year, it is estimated that only 150,000 will be built between now and March 2028.

Mr Pear described the system as “broken” and said delays in planning permission are holding back the plans. He also said there is a “massive skills shortage” in the UK and has called for the next Prime Minister to get a grip of the situation.

Agile constructs flat-pack panels before delivering them to sites, where they are built in around 12 to 14 weeks. The company also partners with community land trusts, charities and housing associations to build affordable homes.

A UK haulage firm faces potential closure after a petition to wind up the business was filed, following 16 years of operation. The London Gazette revealed that a petition to wind up Ian Robinson Transport Limited had been submitted, with the details published in the early hours of July 10.

There is no information on what the news will mean for job cuts in the sector at this early stage. Filing a petition to wind up a company is usually a legal application to the court seeking the liquidation of an insolvent company.

Ian Robinson started his haulage company back in 2010 with just one truck, and it now boasts up to 20 vehicles.

Its fleet is equipped with a range of models, including everything from 44-tonne trucks to flat-bed and box trailers. Ian Robinson Transport Limited describes itself as a general haulage company, but the firm does specialise in the transportation of hazardous waste materials.

The firm explained that its drivers are ADR trained and provided with “all the relevant equipment to carry out these jobs”. The company has two haulage yards, with their main base located in Bamber Bridge and a secondary yard in St Helens.

Ian Robinson Transport Limited has previously struggled with rising petrol and diesel costs, with the business previously implementing a “fuel surcharge”.

The additional fee was added to invoices from March 14, 2022, with their website suggesting that customers paid 5% more for services in early 2025.

The business explained that fuel was “one of [the] biggest overheads over which we have no direct control.”

Express.co.uk has contacted Ian Robinson Transport Limited for comment.

A British seaside town restaurant established in 1985 has officially plunged into liquidation after new owners took over the site. MacMillans Bar and Grill in Worthing, West Sussex, entered voluntary liquidation on June 29, appointing insolvency firm AABRS to act on behalf of the business, according to filings today on the public record, The Gazette.

The restaurant had served up barbeque food, cocktails and “banging tunes” at Union Place in the seaside town, operating under the parent company of Stay Saucy Co Limited. It was a popular cocktail and fire-cooking bar known for small plates, late-night DJ events, and half-price happy hours.

However, the seaside town will not have to endure an empty spot on the high street. The venue was taken over and rebranded to ‘The Next of Kin’ by operators who have previously worked in the town on sucessful projects.

Taking to social media in February, the new bosses said: “Development of The Next of Kin is officially under way. Follow for updates. Wish us luck!”

It was transformed by the team responsible for The New Amsterdam, a popular pub in Worthing known for live events, and Signal Post, a local wine bar and taproom.

The Next of Kin will be “modern but relaxed” with the owners aiming for a “neighbourhood bar and kitchen, built for people’s chosen family”. It is now up and running.

It is unclear why MacMillans entered liquidation. Businesses tend to enter creditors voluntary liquidation when the company faces irrecoverable financial difficulty with pressure from creditors, such as landlords, suppliers or HMRC.

A CVL brings the company to a close and deals with all outstanding company debts as part of the process, with liquidators aiming to maximise the money on any assets, to provide a return to creditors.

Several businesses have entered liquidation recently, with many restaurants saying that the pressure from rising minimum wage, ingredient costs, utility bills and VAT make it hard to run a business.

Only this week, the much-loved restaurant Navaraza in Birmingham appointed liquidators. The much-loved Mexican-Indian eatery had 4.8-star ratings on TripAdvisor, with customers praising it for “great flavours” and “generous portions”.

The Express has approached MacMillans for comment.

A construction company based in the UK has plummeted into administration. After being in business since 2014, G2 Housing Group Ltd entered administration at the end of last month.

Now, administrators Rob Keyes and David Taylor have been appointed as the company closes its doors. Insolvency practitioners are handling the administration proceedings at KRE Corporate Recovery. G2 Housing Group Ltd is a private limited company that has operated in building development and management consulting for 12 years.

This comes following a number of companies throughout the UK also plunging into administration. On June 18, Devonshire Homes Limited was appointed an administrator, as construction companies continue to struggle to keep operations moving forward.

The company, which was primarily involved in building development and management consulting, has its registered office in Waterlooville, Hampshire.

The company had a large focus on sustainable building initiatives. It was registered as a member of the UN-backed One Planet Network with a designated Director of Sustainability and Wellbeing, despite having historically listed a very small headcount of around 3 employees.

The active directors associated with the firm include: Gary Anthony Stirling, who served as chief executive officer. and has multi-decade experience in the affordable housing sector, managing parallel local entities such as Landspeed Affordable Homes Limited. David Alun Rees was appointed as a director in April 2021, and Christopher John Cullen is the active director involved in corporate management.

Land Registry entries indicate the firm held a fixed and floating charge over a notable freehold development asset, including land on the west side of Lipson Road, Plymouth. However, this property asset forms part of the undertaking now being assessed under the administration.

The company’s statutory filings fell behind shortly before insolvency, with its mandatory annual Confirmation Statement becoming overdue in May this year.

The Express has contacted the company and administrators for comment.