More stores will close on high streets across the UK in November as businesses continue to grapple with tough trading conditions. A combination of increased wages, energy bills and business rates, as well as decreased footfall and customer spending have made 2025 a tough year for retailers up and down the country.
As well as shops including Poundland, New Look and Claire's Accesories, a number of major bank branches will shut for good in November. Banks such as Santander, Halifax and Lloyds will close branches as customers shift towards online banking. Lloyds will be hit the hardest in November with 17 banks set to shut for good across the UK.
Businesses across the UK have faced hardship since the Covid-19 pandemic, with increased costs and shoppers cutting back on spending. More people are now opting to shop online which has hit high street shops.
Here is the list of stores set to close in November.
Poundland was bought by investment firm Gordon Brothers for £1 in June. They confirmed plans to invest £90 million into the business as well as a restructuring plan which would see a number of stores close.
The latest casualty will be the store in Sidcup which is set to close for good on November 14. The shop has announced reductions of up to 40%.
Poundland had 800 stores at the start of the restructure process. However, will soon only have between 650 and 700 stores left.
New Look previously confirmed it would close around 100 stores due to the National Insurance hikes and other economic factors. A total of 11 sites will close before the end of 2025 although not all locations are yet known.
However, it has been confirmed that the store in Lewes, Sussex, will shut on November 8. Other stores where leases are up for renewal are also at risk of closure.
As reported by The Sun, a New Look spokesperson said: "Our store in Lewes is set close on November 8. We would like to thank all of our colleagues and the local community for their support over the years. We hope customers continue to shop with us online at newlook.com, where our full product ranges can be found."
Claire's Accessories fell into administration in September and confirmed that 145 stores will close for good across the UK. They have launched sales across closing stores with up to 30% off.
Although exact dates are yet to be confirmed, many of the stores will start to close at the end of November. The closure process will then continue throughout December.
Joe Price, managing director at investment firm Modella Capital, which saved Claire's Accessories, said: "As a firm, we strongly believe that this much-loved brand deserves the chance to remain on the High Street in the UK and Ireland. The issues that Claire's is facing are significant, and we will need to work collaboratively with all interested parties if our proposed rescue plan is to succeed."
Surf shop Ann's Cottage, in Falmouth, Cornwall, will close for good on November 9. It will come after the chain closed its store in Wadebridge just months ago, leaving just seven Ann's Cottage locations left in the county.
A notice on the door of the Falmouth shop states: "After many wonderful years, we're sadly closing our Falmouth store. We want to express our deepest gratitude to all our amazing customers for their loyalty and support over the years.
"It's been a privilege to be part of this community, and we're especially thankful to our fabulous Falmouth team for all their dedication and hard work."
Quality Discounts (QD) has confirmed the closure of its store in Norwich after four decades. The shop in Madgalen Street will shut for good at the end of November due to a downturn in footfall.
A spokesperson for QD said: "QD has confirmed the deeply regrettable decision to close its Magdalen Street store in Norwich at the end of November.
"The announcement comes after a series of challenges linked to the ongoing redevelopment of Anglia Square, which has made it increasingly difficult for QD to trade viably from its current site.
"The significant loss of nearby parking and the introduction of hoardings around the redevelopment area have severely impacted visibility and accessibility for shoppers, making it impossible to sustain the business in its current form."
Popular pub chain Wetherspoon will close two pubs in November. The Water Gate in Barnstaple will shut on November 9 while the Baxter's Court in Hackney will closeon November 2.
It comes as Wetherspoon continues to offload some of its smaller and older pubs. However, it has confirmed that 15 new boozers will open, including at Gateway Park in Lincoln.
Santander has shut 76 banks so far in 2025 with a further branch set to close for good in November. The branch in Surrey Quays, London, will shut on November 18. A further 18 banks will also shut but their closure dates are yet to be announced.
A spokesperson for Santander UK, said: "As customer behaviour changes, we are ensuring that our branches remain fit for the future. Our new combination of full-service branches, alongside Work Cafés, counter-free branches and reduced hours branches, aims to provide the right balance between digital banking and face-to-face money management and guidance.
"As a business, we must move with customers and balance our investment across all the places where we interact with customers, to deliver the very best for them now and in the future.
They added: "Closing a branch is always a very difficult decision and we spend a great deal of time assessing where and when we do this and how to minimise the impact it may have on our customers.
"However, we believe that the introduction of our new Community Bankers and the exciting plans we have for our remaining network of 349 branches and Work Cafés, alongside the rapid and innovative improvements to our award-winning mobile banking app, will provide the right balance of digital banking and human interaction when required."
Halifax is set to close a total of 100 branches by the end of 2025. While most have already shut, three more will close in November.
The branch in Bolton will close on November 20, the branch in Wickford will shut on November 10 and the branch in Hexham will shutter on November 5. Halifax, which is part of the Lloyds Banking Group, attributed the closures to changing customer habits, with fewer customers visiting physical locations, and most opting for online banking.
A Lloyds Banking Group spokesperson said: "The way people are banking has changed, with over 21 million customers choosing our apps to manage their money. We're providing more choice than ever before, bringing together the best in digital convenience with our people.
"Alongside our app, our customers can use any Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland branch, the Post Office or Banking Hubs for their everyday banking, and deposit cash at over 30,000 PayPoint locations."
Lloyds will also shut around 100 branches in 2025 with 17 set to close for good in November. They also cited a change in customer behavuour as the reason behind the closures.
A spokesperson said: "Customers' preference for flexibility and convenience has made banking on our apps the most popular choice - more than 21 million customers are choosing our apps to do their everyday banking, logging in over 7 billion times a year.
"Mobile banking gives people 24/7/365 access to their finances. Customers can see all their money in one place, pay in cheques, apply for finance, manage subscriptions, check their credit score, message our customer support teams and much more.
"We use some of the latest technologies and systems to help keep our customers and their money safe. Our apps are also compatible with standard device screen readers.
"For customers who prefer to bank in-person, as part of our tech investment Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland customers can use any brand of branch to do their everyday banking, giving access to many more branches.
"Alongside our apps and on the phone, customers can visit a Community Banker alongside the Post Office or a Banking Hub. Customers can also pay in cash at over 30,000 PayPoint locations using our app barcode cash deposit feature."
Here is the full list of November closures.
