Hundreds of shops across various high street chains will close this year amid a tough period for British businesses. Major brands, banks, and charities have announced numerous closures in 2025 due to factors such as restructuring, inflation, and rising costs.
The Covid pandemic also accelerated the shift towards online shopping, contributing to the strain felt by some of the UK's most popular names. Read on to find out which branches across various major high street names are set to pull down the shutters for good in November.
Paddy Power announced in mid-October that 57 of its 608 betting shops across the UK and Ireland would be closing.
The decision came after a review of the betting firm's high street estate amid "increasing cost pressures and challenging market conditions", parent company Flutter Entertainment, which also owns Betfair and Sky Bet, said.
The firm said 29 Paddy Power stores in the UK, including one in Northern Ireland, and 28 stores in the Republic of Ireland would be impacted.
The company didn't appear to provide specifics on which shops were scheduled to close, though a branch in High Wycombe, at 12 White Hart Street, has reportedly been shuttered since the announcement.
The Express has contacted Paddy Power for more information.
A Flutter UKI spokesperson previously said staff affected by the closures would be offered "redeployment opportunities where possible".
They added: "However, the closures will unfortunately lead to a number of job losses."
Poundland was sold by Pepco Group in June 2025 to a subsidiary of Gordon Brothers International LLC for £1 after the budget brand faced severe financial pressures.
As part of its restructuring plan, the new owners aim to markedly reduce the Poundland network from 800 stores to between 650 and 600.
It previously announced a plan to close 68 stores, though some have been rescued. A dozen stores were closed across October, and November has brought a total of 13 closures, including one in Launceston today (Saturday, November 29).
These include:
Further closures are scheduled in December and the new year. Among them are:
New Look closed its store in Lewes High Street earlier this month.
The branch closed for good on November 8, with the move announced at the start of the month.
A spokesperson said: "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, where our full product ranges can be found."
The Express contacted New Look about whether any other branches have closed this month, and if more closures are planned.
Charity shop chain Scope has closed more than 70 stores nationwide so far this year.
At the start of 2025, the 73-year-old disability charity proposed closing most of its brick-and-mortar locations after forecasting that its retail operations would lose £1.5m this financial year, Civil Society reported.
It previously had 138 shops in England and Wales. Scope said closing the stores would allow it to focus on stores that are more sustainable and profitable.
Scope's head of retail, Debbie Boylen, said confirming the closures were devastating, and added that the charity's shops "have helped us raise vital income to support our work with disabled people and their families".
Two of their shops closed in November, including Stourbridge (November 20), and Folkestone (November 22), as reported by The Metro.
Ann's Cottage is a surf and lifestyle company that has become one of the largest surf and outdoor retailers in Europe, and is particularly well known in Cornwall, where several of its shops operate.
However, its store in Falmouth closed for good on November 9.
A sign on the shop in Church Street, Falmouth, reads: "After many wonderful years, we're sadly closing our Falmouth store on November 9. 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."
The sign continues: "You can still shop with us any time online at annscottage.com or at your closest store in Truro. This isn't goodbye, just a see you soon."
Ann's Cottage Becci Cornelius told the Falmouth Packet that the move "does not reflect the performance of the store itself - which has been successful and well supported - but rather a considered decision in line with the new direction of the business".
It came just months after the company closed its Wadebridge branch after two decades.
Claire's went into administration in August, following the bankruptcy of its US parent company.
Modella Capital bought and saved 156 stores across the UK and Ireland, but some 145 locations were excluded from the deal and face unknown fates.
Around seven Claire's branches closed in November, these reportedly include its stores in:
Its branch in Redditch, 10 Kingfisher Walk, is also set to close tomorrow (Sunday, November 30), according to reports.
Claire's remaining stores are being run by administrators at Interpath. Will Wright, its UK chief executive and joint administrator, previously said "their intention is to continue to trade the remaining portfolio of stores for as long as we can, while we explore the options available".
Express.co.uk has reached out to Modella Capital and Interpath to find out whether any other branches have closed, or are set to close, in November.
