Major UK Retail Closures Sweep High Streets in April 2026
The British high street is facing a significant wave of closures this April 2026, with dozens of shops and bank branches shutting their doors permanently. Popular retail chains such as GAME and The Original Factory Shop are leading the closures, while other retailers like TG Jones are warning of potential shutdowns. Additionally, banking giant Santander has announced 13 branch closures for this month, with a total of 44 expected by year-end, putting nearly 300 jobs at risk.
Metro has compiled a comprehensive list of all announced closures and administration updates for April 2026, allowing consumers to check if their local shops are affected. All closures detailed below have been officially confirmed by the respective companies.
GAME Shuts Its Last Remaining Standalone Stores
Video game retailer GAME, which entered administration earlier this year for the second time, is closing its few remaining standalone shops. While the majority of GAME's presence is now through concessions in Sports Direct stores, several standalone locations in Dudley, Lancaster, and Sutton are scheduled to close this month. Despite these closures, GAME will continue operating via its website and through over 200 Sports Direct concessions, following a previous round of 40 UK closures in 2020.
Quiz Announces Potential Closure of 40 Shops
Fashion retailer Quiz has revealed that approximately 40 of its stores may close by the end of April 2026, marking the second time the chain has faced significant shutdowns. After falling into administration in February 2025, 23 stores were closed, with the remaining branches purchased by subsidiary company Orion. A rescue plan is currently being developed to save the company, but if no agreement is reached within weeks, closures will commence. Stores at risk include locations in:
- Aberdeen
- Basingstoke
- Braehead Shopping Centre, Glasgow
- Bracknell
- Buchanan Galleries Shopping Centre, Glasgow
- Cardiff
- Carlisle
- Castlecourt Shopping Centre, Belfast
- Castleford
- Clydebank
- Craigavon
- Derby
- Dunfermline
- Eastbourne
- Glasgow Fort Shopping Centre, Glasgow
- Hanley
- Hull
- Inverness
- Irvine
- Lakeside Shopping Centre, Thurrock
- Leicester
- Livingston
- Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre, Manchester
- Mansfield
- Merryhill
- Metrocentre Shopping Centre, Gateshead
- Newry
- Newtownabbey
- Northampton
- Norwich
- Portsmouth
- Romford
- Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Sheffield
- St Enoch Shopping Centre, Glasgow
- Stirling
- The Trafford Centre, Manchester
- Telford
- Warrington
- Watford
- White Rose Shopping Centre, Leeds
The Original Factory Shop Continues Closure Wave
The Original Factory Shop, which entered administration in January 2026, has closed dozens of locations in recent months. In March alone, shops in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cromer, Gorleston On Sea, Snettisham, Garstang, and Bungay were shut. Additional closures followed in early April, including branches in Redruth, Stanley, Cainscross, and Leominster. Remaining stores are holding closing-down sales with discounts of up to 85%.
Topps Tiles Closes 23 Stores Amid Market Challenges
On April 1, 2026, home improvement retailer Topps Tiles announced the closure of 23 shops due to a tough market and rising costs. Eight underperforming stores have already closed, with the remaining 17 scheduled to shut over the next six months, though specific locations have not been disclosed. Chief executive Alex Jensen stated that these closures aim to support year-on-year growth and provide a stronger financial platform for 2027 and beyond. The chain, founded in 1963, previously acquired competitor CTD in 2024 and rival Fired Earth in December 2025 for £3 million.
TG Jones Faces Closure Risk for 80 Stores
Approximately 80 TG Jones stores, formerly WH Smith, are at risk of closure due to tough trading conditions. Owner Modella Capital, a private equity firm, has engaged advisors to develop a restructuring plan to place the business on a more sustainable footing. Out of the chain's 480 stores, 80 are under threat, though no final decisions on specific closures have been made. Modella previously placed The Original Factory Shop and Claire's Accessories into administration, both of which have experienced multiple store closures.
New Look Announces Another Closure
Fashion retailer New Look has confirmed another closure for April 2026, with its Carrickfergus branch in Northern Ireland set to shut on April 15. The store is currently holding a closing-down sale. This follows the closure of 41 branches across the UK in 2025, though no additional closures have been announced so far.
William Hill to Shut 200 Betting Shops
Bookmaker William Hill has announced the closure of 200 out of its 1,300 UK betting shops, citing that they are no longer sustainable. Owner Evoke stated that closures will begin in May 2026, though specific branches have not been revealed. Affected retail workers will receive the company's full support, with Evoke emphasizing that in the face of rising cost pressures we must take action to ensure we can continue to invest in our core retail estate.
Santander Bank Closures Accelerate
Santander has announced 13 branch closures for April 2026, with an additional 31 expected by 2027. The bank attributes these closures to customers increasingly using digital services. April closures include:
- Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland – April 28
- Boston, Lincolnshire – April 28
- Evesham, Worcestershire – April 28
- Mold, Clwyd – April 28
- Ramsgate, Kent – April 28
- Woking, Surrey – April 28
- Bangor, County Down – April 29
- Bridgwater, Somerset – April 29
- Kirkintilloch, Lanarkshire – April 29
- Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire – April 29
- Newbury, Berkshire – April 29
- Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire – April 29
- Tonbridge, Kent – April 29
Further closures scheduled for May 2026 and beyond include branches in Bishop Auckland, Gosport, Haverfordwest, Huntingdon, Pontefract, Welwyn Garden City, Glengormley, Leyland, Mansfield, Merthyr Tydfil, Northallerton, Ringwood, Andover, Bridgend, Enniskillen, Macclesfield, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cwmbran, Golders Green, Heswall, Redditch, Stranraer, Newton Abbot, Stafford, Banbridge, Liskeard, and Shirley. Additional closures are planned for Leighton Buzzard, Ormskirk, Whitehaven, and Wilmslow by January 2027.
This wave of closures highlights ongoing challenges in the UK retail and banking sectors, driven by economic pressures, shifting consumer habits, and digital transformation.
