Five major retailers shutting stores across UK in February - from WHSmith to Superdrug
Major retailers set to shut stores across the UK in February have been revealed. The list is led by WHSmith, the iconic blue and white flagship high street staple, which has confirmed as many as 500 stores are at risk as we head through the calendar year.
WH Smith store in The Malls in Basingstoke will officially close at noon on Saturday, February 1, marking the end of an era for the retailer, which has operated at this site since 1968. The Post Office had warned that the branch was at risk of closure following the resignation of its current operator.
However, it has now announced that a new operator has been appointed. A spokesperson for the company said previously: "The operator for Basingstoke Post Office has resigned as WHSmith has made the difficult decision to close the store, where the branch is based, on Saturday, February 1, at noon, following the expiry of its lease.
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"The vacancy was advertised, and we received interest from three retailers. We have now appointed a new operator and hope to share further details in the near future. We know how important a Post Office is to the community, and we are working hard to restore service in the town centre as soon as possible."
WHSmith
WHSmith leads the latest round of closures, with four high-street shops set to close next month. It comes after the company confirmed it will close 500 high street stores. Two have already stopped trading this month – in Bournemouth town centre and Luton, Bedfordshire. Four more closures are expected in February, with Bournemouth again on the list of targeted sites.
The Basingstoke branch will close on February 1 after 56 years of operation. Sites closing include Basingstoke, Hampshire (February 1) and Winton, Bournemouth (February 15) as well as Rhyl, Denbighshire (February 15) and Bolton, Greater Manchester (February 15).
Superdrug
The health and beauty retailer, which operates over 800 branches nationwide, will shut its Bournemouth town centre location just as February's wave of closures begins. The popular retailer - which sells everything from makeup to medicine - confirmed to The Sun that it is exiting the location because of the landlord's desire to redevelop the site.
As part of the development plans, the current building housing the shop will be converted into eight smaller units, reports in the Bournemouth Daily Echo said. Following its closure, locals will have three other Superdrugs to shop from but no longer have a branch in the town centre.
Wetherspoons
The pub chain, known for its affordable prices, continues to evaluate its property portfolio across the country and sites that are either up for sale or "under offer" across the UK include The Ivor Davies, Cardiff (for sale), The Quay, Poole (for sale) and Sir Daniel Arms, Swindon (under offer).
Monki
Monki will completely exit the UK high street as it prepares to close all its physical stores. Monki, which arrived in Britain in 2012, will shut its remaining five locations across the country. H&M has indicated that some locations may be converted into Weekday stores, another of its subsidiary brands, though details of which sites will be transformed remain unclear.
A full list of the Monki stores at risk of closure in February 2025 includes Glasgow (no specified date), Sheffield (no specified date), Birmingham (no specified date), Bristol (no specified date) and London (no specified date).
Millets
The outdoor retailer is set to close six of its 100 UK stores, with four locations transitioning to become Go Outdoors sites. A full list of the Millet stores at risk of closure in February 2025 includes Lowestoft (no specified date), Douglas (no specified date), York (no specified date) and Grimsby (no specified date).