Boots and Marks & Spencer announce store closures for 2023 – full list

The high street has taken a hit in recent years, first due to the pandemic and second, the cost of living crisis.

Spending and shopping habits have changed, with many home improvement stores, clothing stores and supermarkets affected.

Back in August, Retail Gazette reported: “According to the British Retail Consortium, 6,000 shops have closed down in the UK in the last five years as a result of crippling business rates, a wave of administrations during the pandemic, and hesitancy around new openings.”

Some retailers are launching more stores across the UK, for example Mango, Sephora, Screwfix, Greggs and Mos.

However, a number of popular retailers will be saying goodbye to some stores for good, including Boots, M&S and Iceland. They have had a number of stores close already this year but will be closing the doors of a few more between now and the end of 2023.

Boots

Boots has confirmed 300 stores will close across the UK. While most locations have not yet been revealed, some have already been announced.

The health and beauty retailer confirmed that stores closing down were not expected to meet their financial targets.

There are currently no proposed redundancies, and affected workers will be given roles at other locations.

Boots is said to be diverting resources to where they are most needed. A spokesperson explained: “Evolving the store estate in this way allows Boots to concentrate its team members where they are needed and focus investment more acutely in individual stores with the ambition of consistently delivering an excellent and reliable service in a fresh and up-to-date environment.”

Full list of known Boots closures for the rest of the year

• Kings Square, York – October 28
• Warminster – October 28
• Guildford Road, Woking – end of October
• Gorleston, Great Yarmouth – November
• High Row, Darlington – November 3
• Mudge Way, Plymouth – November 18
• Mount Pleasant, Exeter – November 18
• Front Street, Prudhoe – no date
• Lurgan – no date

M&S

At the beginning of the year, Marks and Spencer revealed its plans to reduce its “full line” stores, including clothing and home branches, from 247 to 180.

But it’s not all bad news for customers, as the retailer will also be opening a total of 104 Simply Food branches in the next five years, increasing its food shops from 316 to 420.

M&S confirmed the Wrexham store will permanently close on November 30. However, all is not lost, as the supermarket will be opening a new Foodhall in Wrexham, located in Plas Coch Retail Park, just one day later on December 1. The new 15,000 sq ft store will offer local shoppers a fresh market-style Foodhall with an in-store bakery.

Iceland

Full list of known Iceland closures for the rest of the year

• Trinity Street in Huddersfield – October 28
• Fulford Road, York – October 28

Richard Walker, the executive chairman of Iceland Food, explained that some closures are simply down to an expiring lease. In some cases, local shopping patterns have changed.

But Iceland customers need not worry, as the supermarket also has store openings coming up. A spokesperson said: “Across Iceland and The Food Warehouse we have a portfolio of over 1,000 UK stores, and our retail estate has grown by nearly 200 stores over the last 10 years.

“We typically open more than 20 new stores each year, creating many new jobs and contributing to the growth of local economies.”