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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Aug- 2025 -18 August
Retail footfall dips for third consecutive week amid heatwave
Retail footfall fell for the third consecutive week across the UK, as hot weather and shifting visitor patterns contributed to declines in shopping centre and retail park activity, according to data from MRI Software. Overall footfall declined by 1.8% in the week to 17 August compared with the previous seven…
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14 August
Nearly half of indie retailers report Q2 sales decline, BIRA finds
Nearly half (46%) of Britain’s independent retailers reported lower sales in the second quarter of 2025 compared with the same period last year, according to new figures from the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA). The decline was attributed to a squeeze on household budgets and falling consumer confidence as key…
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13 August
Shoe Zone halves profit forecast amid weak consumer confidence
Shoe Zone expects annual profits to fall by half after seeing a drop in footfall and revenues during June and July, as higher interest rates and weak consumer confidence continue to weigh on spending. The footwear retailer now forecasts adjusted profit before tax of about £2.5m for the year ending…
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12 August
Poundland confirms location of 12 further store closures
Poundland has confirmed the locations of a further 12 stores that are set to close under its restructuring plan, taking the total number identified to 52 out of 68. As part of the restructuring plan, 13 stores have already closed, with 15 closures planned for 17 August, and 12 planned…
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12 August
Waterstones secures £125m to fund growth
Waterstones has secured £125m in syndicated financing to support its operations and expansion plans. The UK-based bookseller said the package, jointly arranged by Barclays UK Corporate Bank and HSBC UK Bank, includes a £75m term loan and a £50m revolving credit facility. The funding will go towards the company’s ongoing…
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11 August
The Entertainer to become an Employee Owned Trust
TEAL Group Holdings, owner of The Entertainer, Early Learning Centre and Addo Play Ltd, has announced that the Grant family are transferring their 100% ownership to an Employee Ownership Trust. Due to complete in September 2025, The Entertainer said this decision is the culmination of a long-term succession plan and…
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8 August
Criminals exploiting weak trading enforcement, Bira warns
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has warned that a collapse in trading standards enforcement is allowing criminal operators to undermine legitimate businesses. The warning follows a new investigation by consumer group Which?, which found that 36 trading standards services reported no criminal prosecutions in the 2023–24 financial year. Some…
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7 August
Specsavers to invest £7m in manufacturing facility
Specsavers has unveiled a “significant” investment in its UK supply chain, with plans to invest £7m over a two year period in its Vision Labs manufacturing facility in Kidderminster. The investment will fund the expansion and upgrade of the Worcestershire site, which produces prescription lenses for more than 900 Specsavers…
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1 August
High street sales fall further behind online after poor July
Total like-for-like retail sales grew by just 2.8% in July, compared to a base of 3.0% in July 2024, according to data from accountancy firm BDO. Sales in bricks-and-mortar stores grew by just 0.8% compared to July 2024, delivering a result significantly below inflation and therefore a reduction to volumes…
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Jul- 2025 -31 July
Card Factory opens 1,100th store at Cheshunt retail park
Card Factory has opened its 1,100th high street store in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, as the greetings card and gift retailer expands its national footprint. The new outlet, based at Brookfield Retail Park, welcomed its first customers on 31 July and has created 12 local jobs. Regional manager Maureen Wheele led the…
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