Poundland Bought as UK High Street Closures Mount

Dozens of UK high‑street shops are set to close in October 2025 amid a wave of restructurings affecting major chains and independents. Poundland was bought by Gordon Brothers for £1 and is carrying out a rescue plan that will cut about 68 stores, close two warehouses and trim roughly 1,000 jobs while reducing its estate from about 800 to an expected 650–700 outlets. Trespass will close its Harlequin Watford store on October 31, Halifax will shut its Camborne branch on October 7, and Quadrant Department Stores in Chelmsford and Braintree will close in late October after 158 years. Other chains including Sports Direct and Starbucks have announced selective closures or reviews of company‑owned branches. Analysts cite rising energy bills, rents, National Insurance, wages, high inflation, lease expiries and a sustained shift to online shopping as drivers; the Centre for Retail Research warns of more than 17,000 shop closures by 2025 and up to about 202,000 job losses. The government has pledged up to £5 billion through the Pride in Place programme to help revive town centres as retailers consult on redundancies and carry out further closures.