UK high street icon with 700 shops shutting in 14 locations in weeks

Over the past few years, we have seen signs that the UK high street is really struggling. Online shopping has taken over, and because of the lower levels of footfall, many retailers have been forced to shut their doors for good. 

An example of this is Poundland, the bargain store that was once thriving – but ‘challenging trading conditions’ have made it difficult for them to sustain this. This month alone, four have already closed, with 10 more expected to shut in the coming weeks. By the end of 2026, around 100 shops are expected to pull their shutters down for good.

Stores expected to close will be holding clearance sales with discounts of up to 40%, giving customers one final chance to grab a bargain.

In 2025, Poundland was sold for a nominal £1 to a US investment firm. This company, Gordon Brothers, came up with a restructuring plan to make more money.

Poundland expects to end up with between 650 and 700 shops by the time the plan is complete, compared to the beginning of 2025 when it had around 800 stores.

Competition from platforms like Amazon and TikTok shop means it’s difficult for bargain stores to keep their title as the cheapest place to buy products. This, as well as fewer people wandering around the high street, contributes to store closures and the loss of jobs.

Here’s the full list of Poundland stores which have already closed in January and the ones that are set to close in the coming weeks.