High Street
The latest news, updates and analysis on the the British High Street and UK retail industry. Sign up to the Daily Briefing and let Retail Sector’s business journalists keep you in the picture.
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Jun- 2025 -20 June
Retail sales see sharpest monthly fall since December 2023
Retail sales volumes fell by 2.7% in May, according to the latest retail sales figures from the ONS, marking the sharpest monthly decline since December 2023. The fall followed a revised 1.3% rise in April and was driven largely by reduced spending in food stores and weaker sales of clothing…
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17 June
Poundland confirms plans to shutter 150 stores
Poundland has confirmed that up to 150 stores and two distribution centres are set to close under a new restructuring plan, subject to court approval. Following Poundland’s acquisition by Gordon Brothers last week, an initial 68 stores will close, and along with rent reduction plans, its estate will eventually fall…
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17 June
Oxford Street pedestrianisation gets go-ahead
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has revealed that the planned pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been given the green light. The mayor’s office stated that its consultation showed that around seven in 10 back the Oxford Street transformation plans, with two-thirds specifically supporting the idea of pedestrianisation. Alongside this, major…
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17 June
Poundland to halt rent payments at hundreds of stores amid restructuring
Poundland will reportedly pause rent payments at hundreds of shops if a restructuring plan is approved by creditors later this summer, Sky News has reported. Poundland’s new owner, investment firm Gordon Brothers, which acquired the retailer last week, is proposing to halt all rent payments at ‘Category C’ shops across…
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16 June
Asda to invest £10m into upgrading 180 in-store cafes
Asda has announced there will be a £10m refresh program in over 180 of its in-store cafes. The project, led by partner Compass, will begin this month and is expected to be completed by the end of October. The cafés, which are managed by Compass, will be upgraded to have…
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16 June
Largest retailers to pay £600m extra in business rates from 2026
Major supermarkets and West End stores are set to pay an extra £600m in business rates from April 2026 following government reforms, according to analysis by property firm Colliers for The Times. The changes will lower the business rates multiplier for smaller retail, hospitality and leisure sites, with the shortfall recouped by…
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13 June
Primark to open standalone Home store in Manchester
Primark has announced it will open its first standalone Home store in Great Britain this summer at Trafford Palazzo in Manchester. The 11,900 sq. ft, two-floor unit is set to launch later in the season and follows the debut of the Primark Home concept in Belfast earlier this year. It…
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13 June
Warm weather fails to boost footfall in May
Retail footfall across the UK declined by 1.7% compared with May 2024, spelling a sharp drop from the 7.2% rise recorded in April, according to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic Solutions. The downturn affected most retail locations, with High Streets down 2.5% year-on-year, and…
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13 June
Activist investor builds stake in WH Smith
Activist investor Palliser has reportedly acquired close to a 5% stake in WH Smith, worth about £65m at its current share price, according to reports from Sky News. Palliser is thought to hold WH Smith’s management team, led by chief executive Carl Cowling, in high regard with the move coming…
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13 June
10,000 Wilko workers to get £2m pay out
Almost 10,000 former Wilko workers have been awarded a £2m pay out after the high street retailer failed to properly consult with workers prior to going bust in 2023. It comes as the GMB union said it had won a legal case on behalf of thousands of members who lost…
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