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WHSmith to close 17 stores this year as it streamlines operations

WHSmith to close 17 stores this year as it streamlines operations

WHSmith is set to shut 17 stores across the UK in the coming months, as part of its ongoing restructuring strategy.

The retailer, which operates over 1,100 locations nationwide, has already seen several closures since 2023, with more planned for 2025.

The latest round will take place between now and May, following a shift in WHSmith’s focus, as it looks to streamline operations and shift its footprint to more profitable locations.

In 2023, CEO Carl Cowling confirmed that WHSmith would no longer pursue growth in the UK high street sector, stating that opening additional stores would simply be a duplication of its existing presence.

Instead, the business is prioritising growth in travel locations such as airports, rail stations, and overseas markets in the US and Europe. Over half of WHSmith’s UK stores are now in travel locations.

However, the high street staple is balancing these closures with expansion plans, with 90 new stores set to open during the same period – targeting high-traffic travel hubs.

So far, closures have been confirmed up until May 2025, with more announcements expected later in the year.

Three closures are scheduled for the same day, 15 February, while five additional stores are set to close in April.

The first closures took place on 18 January, with WHSmith’s Bournemouth and Luton locations shutting their doors.

The Bournemouth store, located on Old Christchurch Road, was cited as “no longer sustainable” due to its performance, though WHSmith has committed to supporting affected staff by redeploying them to nearby stores where possible.

The stores join a long list of retailers that have closed shops across UK high streets in recent years.

In 2024, a total of 13,479 stores permanently closed, up 28% from 2023.

Below is the full list of closures and the last day you can visit your local WHSmith store:

  • Bournemouth (Old Christchurch Road), Dorset – 18 January
  • Luton, Bedfordshire – 18 January
  • March, Cambridgeshire – 25 January
  • Basingstoke, Hampshire – 1 February
  • Newtown, Powys – 15 February
  • Bournemouth (Winton), Dorset – 15 February
  • Rhyl, Denbighshire – 15 February
  • Bolton, Greater Manchester – February
  • Accrington, Lancashire – 15 March
  • Halstead, Essex – April
  • Halesowen, West Midlands – April
  • Diss, Norfolk – April
  • Newport, South Wales – April
  • Haverhill, Suffolk – 26 April
  • Stockton, County Durham – May
  • Oldham, Greater Manchester – May
  • Orpington, Greater London – no date given yet

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