![New research shows that around 15,000 stores across the Uk are set to close this year (Image: James Turner)](/upload/news/2023/02/11/4051.jpg)
A number of shops, banks and pubs across the UK are set to close with major retailers and businesses making announcements in recent weeks.
TK Maxx, New Look, B&Q and Wetherspoons are just some of the businesses who will be closing branches.
In the latest blow to the high street, major retailers are expected to pull their shutters for one last time this year, with many revealing they have been affected by high inflation.
And this high inflation has caused many families to be affected too, tightening their purse strings and forcing them to shop less.
With the cost of living crisis, there has also been lower demand for bars and pubs from customers.
In fact, the amount spent on retail in the UK dropped by 0.4% in November, against a forecast of a 0.3% rise by industry analysts, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The UK high street previously suffered a tough two years due to the coronavirus crisis, where lockdown measures meant that many popular stores saw a decline in footfall.
Almost 50 shops closed down every day last year as retailers grappled with soaring energy costs, wider inflation and online shopping, according to Centre for Retail Research.
And now, figures by the expert research and analysis foundation, show that around 15,000 stores across UK high streets are expected to close this year, with the Professor Joshua Bamfield, the director, saying that "big hitters" could also go under.
The mass retailer exodus includes hundreds of popular stores operated by household names, such as Paperchase, New Look and House of Fraser.
TK Maxx and Homesense will be closing stores over the next few weeks in another blow for the UK high street.
Homesense is a subsidiary of TK Maxx which sells homeware pieces such as ornaments, storage, home decor and plants.
The Edinburgh site will close next week (Wednesday, February 15) due to the landlord pulling the lease.
Manwhile, the Homesense site in Manchester Arndale Centre will close on Wednesday, March 1.
Swansea will also lose its Homesense store, currently located at Parc Fforestfach, which be relocated by the end of March.
The spokesperson for TK Maxx said: "Our senior managers have been in store supporting the team.
"We’re currently in consultation with all affected associates and our intention is that all associates will be offered roles in other local TK Maxx or Homesense stores."
The stores closing are:
Fashion retailer New Look is shutting stores across the UK.
However, the high street giant has said that the closures are part of its "normal course of business" as new sites will be opening also.
It added that it is working to find "suitable alternative roles" for the staff that will be affected by their stores closing.
The stores that are set to shut their doors are:
Kirkcaldy- early February
House of Fraser was saved from collapse by Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley back in 2018, but now it is set to close more stores across the UK - despite only having 30 sites.
The high street department store is expected to close its Cardiff site after it recently launched a major clearance sale.
And the Birmingham site is also expected to be at risk of closure after it was converted into an outlet store.
No official announcement has yet been made by House of Fraser regarding the closures.
The popular DIY chain has announced that it is to close eight of its sites in Asda stores within the next few weeks.
B&Q staff will be offered alternative roles in nearby stores, so no jobs will be lost as a result.
The home improvement store added that the decision was made after an "intensive review" of the test format.
B&Q's eight locations set to shut are:
The popular pub giant has announced 19 pubs have already been sold off, and 35 hostelries have been put on the market.
Now, in a huge blow to punters, a further outlet has also been added to the list as customers are hit by the cost of living crisis.
The pub chain's sales fell by 1.1%, it reported on November 6, 2022, in comparison to trading before the pandemic in 2019.
Full list of pubs set to close from February:
The 35 other pubs for sale are located all over the UK.
And for the full list of pubs on the market, click here.
Lloyds and Halifax will close another 40 branches this year.
More specifically, Lloyds Banking Group, which owns both banks, will shut 22 Lloyds branches and 18 Halifax sites.
The closures will happen between April and June this year.
A spokesperson said that customer visits to the affected bank branches have dropped by around 60% on average, forcing them to shut their doors.
However, it must be noted that all the banks that are due to shut are within a third of a mile of at least one free-to-use cashpoint and a Post Office.
Full list of Lloyds bank closures
Full list of Halifax closures
Barclays has announced the closure of 15 branches across the UK.
This means that over 100 banks are going to shut down so far this year.
The bank is set to close 14 branches across England and one in Wales from late April to the first few days on May.
Full list of Barclays closures:
Boots has confirmed it will be closing three stores this spring.
The branches closing are:
Major burger chain Byron Burger fell into administration last month and is set to close nine restaurants across the UK with immediate effect.
Famously Proper, which owns Byron and fried chicken brand Mother Clucker, currently has 21 casual dining restaurants across the UK, however, the closure will see only 12 continue to trade.
The Byron Burger branches closing immediately: