The UK is facing a wave of store closures: which chains are shutting down in September.

According to The Sun: In the UK, there is an increasing number of store closures as major retailers cease operations.

Among them are Poundland, Game, and The Original Factory Shop, which are reducing the number of their outlets, leaving customers with fewer options.

These closures are part of extensive restructuring plans as businesses adapt to changes in shopping habits and financial difficulties.

Game

Today (September 7), the Game store in Metrocentre in Gateshead is closing. This closure is part of the changes being made by its owner, the Frasers group.

The company is reducing its number of stores due to the rise in online shopping and a shift towards consolidation.

Approximately 240 Game stores operate in the UK. Another store in the Galleries shopping center in Bristol will close on September 25.

However, the consolidation of Game into the Sports Direct store in the same shopping center will remain open.

Both closed stores are holding large sales to clear shelves, offering discounts of up to 20%.

Poundland

Today (September 7), the Poundland store in Pontypridd is closing, and its branch in Irvine will close on September 14.

Recently, the discount chain avoided bankruptcy by reaching agreements with creditors regarding restructuring plans, which involve store closures and job cuts.

Poundland now plans to close a total of 68 stores.

The restructuring also includes cutting rent in 180 stores and closing the branch that dealt with frozen products as well as online shopping.

The frozen goods distribution center in Darton will close later this year, which means online shopping and frozen products will no longer be available at Poundland.

The national distribution center in Bilston will also close in early 2026.

From September 16, customers will no longer be able to shop online, and the Poundland Perks loyalty program will be canceled.

Customers who signed up for the Poundland Perks app have until January 15, 2026, to use their rewards.

However, Poundland plans to expand its product range for £1 and focus on women's clothing and seasonal items, in case administrative changes take place.

Original Factory Shop

The Original Factory Shop is closing stores across the UK as part of a major restructuring program.

Closures have occurred at branches in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, Normanton, West Yorkshire, and Kirkham, Lancashire.

Next on the list is the store in Chard, which closed today (September 7), and the branch in Market Drayton, which will close on September 20.

The Original Factory Shop was acquired by Modella Capital in February.

Modella is known for taking over troubled retail chains and recently also acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith stores in town centers.

The firm quickly began a restructuring plan to cut rent in 88 Original Factory Shop stores.

By the end of April, Modella developed plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for the retailer.

This process is often used by companies to avoid bankruptcy, which can lead to store closures or business destruction.

This procedure allows firms to explore various options, such as negotiating rent with landlords.

However, the Original Factory Shop previously stated that 'a certain number of unprofitable stores need to close' during the restructuring.

What else is happening on the streets of cities?

Bodycare, which started as a market stall in Lancashire back in the 1970s and has 147 stores in the UK, appointed administrators from Interpath Advisory on Friday.

Immediately, 32 stores closed, cutting about 450 jobs.

115 stores remain open, operating normally while administrators explore options for the future of the business.

However, if a buyer is not found, further store closures may occur.

Bodycare, like many other competitors, is facing pressure from rising costs combined with a decrease in consumer purchasing power.

Recently, River Island avoided bankruptcy by reaching agreements with creditors regarding restructuring plans, including store closures and job cuts.

River Island will close up to 33 stores in January to help pay off the debts of the fashion brand, including locations in major cities such as Edinburgh, Leeds, Oxford, Brighton, and Perth.

Meanwhile, the fashion chain New Look has closed over ten locations in the UK this year and has also exited Ireland.

Last month, Claire's also reported problems and halted online orders for its customers.

Additionally, the fashion chain Monki, owned by H&M, closed its last stores on the streets in August.

Retail in 2025

The British Retail Consortium predicts that the increase in income tax for employers will cost the retail sector £2.3 billion.

The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) also warned that approximately 17,350 retail outlets are likely to close this year.

This comes after a hard 2024 when 13,000 stores closed forever, which is already 28% more than the previous year.

Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of CRR, said:

“The results of 2024 show that while store closures overall were not as bad as in 2020 or 2022, they are still concerning, and 2025 is set to be even worse.”

Professor Bamfield also warned of a gloomy future for 2025, predicting that up to 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.

“The increasing costs of maintaining stores and expenses for each household are likely to lead to retail job losses exceeding the epidemic level in 2020.”