The Full List: Every Major UK Store Closing in January 2026 — And How Many Jobs Will Be Lost

Facing this year head-on, the UK's main shopping areas are staggering under heavy blows, with hundreds of storefronts shuttered in just a few weeks. Thousands of employees find themselves caught in uncertain circumstances, unsure of what lies ahead.

A surge in closures is now hitting clothing stores, eateries, bargain outlets, financial branches, and even nonprofit storefronts. Rising expenses weigh heavily on businesses. Shoppers are behaving differently these days, and new tax regulations have sparked debate among company leaders, many of whom blame them for worsening the situation.

Last year alone, shops on main streets shut their doors nearly 17,500 times. This wave of closures resulted in over 200,000 job losses. A key factor has been the increase in National Insurance contributions, which came into effect from April, hitting retailers hard. This change alone is projected to drain £2.3 billion ($3.08 billion) from the industry. Meanwhile, wages at the lower end of the scale continue to rise, squeezing profit margins further. Experts from the British Retail Consortium warn that the combined pressure is taking a significant toll.

Here is a comprehensive overview of some of the most notable closures affecting British high streets this month:

TGI Friday's: 16 Restaurants, 456 Jobs Lost

The American-themed casual dining chain closed 16 UK outlets on 13 January after entering administration. Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group, which managed the UK branches, appointed administrators from Interpath Advisory, and the business was immediately sold to a subsidiary of Sugarloaf.

The closures led to 456 redundancies, although 33 restaurants remain open, safeguarding 1,384 jobs. Closed locations include Ashton Under Lyne, Doncaster, Staines, Stevenage, Walsall, Bournemouth, Telford, Reading, Coventry, Edinburgh, Crawley, Aberdeen Beach, Nottingham, Sheffield, Stratford (London), and Braintree.

River Island: 27 Stores Closing

Fashion retailer River Island is shutting approximately 32-33 stores throughout January as part of a High Court-approved restructuring plan. These closures represent over 10% of its 230-store portfolio.

Chief executive Ben Lewis stated: 'We have a clear transformation strategy to ensure the long-term viability of the business, and this decision gives us a strong platform to deliver this.'

Closures on 18 January include Aylesbury, Burton-upon-Trent, Leeds Birstall Park, Lisburn, Perth, Surrey Quays, Sutton Coldfield, Taunton, and Wrexham. Further closures are scheduled between 24 and 26 January, covering Bangor Bloomfield, Cumbernauld, Hartlepool, Kilmarnock, Northwich, St Helens, and Altrincham. The final batch on 31 January will see shops close in Barnstaple, Beckton, Didcot, Falkirk, Gloucester, Grimsby, Hanley, Hereford, Kirkcaldy, Oxford, Poole, and Rochdale.

Claire's and The Original Factory Shop: 294 Stores, 2,500 Jobs at Risk

Accessories chain Claire's and discount retailer The Original Factory Shop both entered administration on 5 January, putting approximately 2,500 jobs at risk.

Owner Modella Capital cited 'alarmingly' weak Christmas trading and government fiscal policies as key factors. Claire's operates 154 stores with 1,355 staff, while TOFS has 140 stores employing 1,220 workers.

Poundland: 12 Stores Closing in January

Budget retailer Poundland, sold for just £1 ($1.34) in 2025, continues its restructuring under new owners Gordon Brothers. Twelve stores are closing this month as the chain reduces its portfolio from 800 to between 650 and 700 locations.

Closures include Bexhill and Ponders End on 5 January, Kilmarnock on the same day, Faversham on 6 January, Mitcham on 14 January, Liverpool on 15 January, Yeovil on 16 January, Cameron Toll in Edinburgh on 20 January, Nottingham Eastpoint on 22 January, Lymington and Christchurch on 23 January, and Bristol Avon Meads on 29 January.

Cancer Research UK: 88 Shops by May

The charity announced plans to close 88 branches by May 2026, with a further 100 expected to shut by April 2027. Around 600 staff and up to 3,000 volunteers face uncertain futures, although the charity will retain 320 shops and plans to open 12 new 'superstores' by 2028.

Lloyds Banking Group: 71 Branches to Close in 2026

Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland will shut 71 branches throughout 2026 as digital banking continues to grow in popularity. January alone will see 24 closures across the three brands, with more than 21 million customers now preferring online banking.

What This Means for Workers

The human toll of these closures is staggering. Forbes Burton's latest Distressed Business List reveals that over 120,000 UK jobs have been lost or are at risk due to company closures and restructuring over the past year.

Falling profits, exacerbated by new pay regulations, hit hard, especially for charities and discount retailers. Ben Westoby, from Forbes Burton, highlights how the small profit margins are shrinking further under the pressure of increased minimum wages. Many operations now face tougher survival odds without adjustments.

This year, the pace of closures shows no sign of slowing. Whether someone works daily or just visits occasionally, the landscape is changing rapidly. Stores are vanishing at an unprecedented rate, and what lies ahead feels more like mounting pressure than promising growth.