S Among 6 UK Retailers Closing Stores In November | Express.Co.Uk

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A fresh wave of store closures could wreak havoc for high street shoppers in the run-up to Christmas .

Dwindling footfall, ongoing restructuring plans, and steep rents have compelled numerous chains to close locations.

The latest data from the Centre for Retail Research reveals that nearly 10,500 UK shops permanently closed their doors in 2023, and 119,000 jobs were lost across the sector during the same period.

Closures have continued well into 2024, with 1,846 store closures recorded in the first half of the year and 23,982 retail jobs lost.

The department store giant will close one of its most iconic locations in Bluewater, Kent, at the end of November.

House of Fraser has operated out of a large unit on two floors of the shopping centre, the fifth largest in the UK, for 25 years. However, shoppers will see the branch close on November 27.

Some House of Fraser stores have already closed, including the store in Plymouth, which closed due to "unforeseen circumstances". The Cabot Circus store has also closed and will be replaced by Marks and Spencer's in 2025, while the Lakeside Shopping Centre store closed in January 2024. 

The closure of the Kent store, which is one of around 28 remaining sites, comes four years after businessman Mike Ashley saved the well-known British brand from collapse.