{"id":5395,"date":"2026-05-04T17:20:49","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T17:20:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/?p=5395"},"modified":"2026-05-04T17:20:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T17:20:49","slug":"major-uk-high-street-chain-could-close-100-stores-in-restructure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/?p=5395","title":{"rendered":"Major UK high street chain &#8216;could close 100 stores&#8217; in restructure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>Another potential blow for the British high street.<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose drop-cap \">\n<p>TG Jones, the high street retailer that snapped up most of WHSmith&#8217;s former stores, is facing the potential closure of around 100 branches under a new debt restructuring plan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<p>Sky News reports that owner Modella is looking to replace its current lender, Secure Trust Bank, in a major financial overhaul that could put hundreds of jobs at risk which is a significant blow to a chain that employed roughly 5,000 people at the time of its WHSmith sale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<p>Alongside the lender switch, the proposals include substantial rent reductions across many of its remaining branches, with investment group Aurelius understood to be the frontrunner to step in as the new financial backer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:0\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:1\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<p>Modella acquired WHSmith&#8217;s UK high street operation last year in a \u00a376 million deal, with WHSmith retaining its more lucrative travel arm, covering airport and train station locations which continues to trade under its original name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<p>The news comes amid a turbulent period for the British high street.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<p>Last month, Claire&#8217;s became the latest casualty, shutting all 154 of its UK and Ireland stores and leaving approximately 1,300 workers facing redundancy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<p>All of Claire&#8217;s standalone stores will be shut down while 350 concessions and its European stores will remain open.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:2\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<p>Claire&#8217;s was founded in 1961 as Fashion Tress Industries by Rowland Schaefer, initially focusing on fashion wigs before acquiring a jewellery chain and shifting to accessories in 1973.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>All the locations where Claire&#8217;s stores will be closing or are already closed<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<p>Here is the full list of locations of Claire&#8217;s stores as per their website, before they all close tomorrow:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>A<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Aberdeen \u2014 Trinity Centre<\/li>\n<li>Athlone \u2014 Golden Island Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<li>Aylesbury \u2014 Friars Square Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:3\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>B<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:4\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>C<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:5\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:6\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>D<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dalton Park \u2014 Dalton Park Outlet<\/li>\n<li>Darlington \u2014 Cornmill Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<li>Derby \u2014 Crown Walk<\/li>\n<li>Dublin (Liffey Valley) \u2014 Liffey Valley Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<li>Dublin (Swords\/Pavilions) \u2014 Pavilions Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<li>Dundalk \u2014 Marshes Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<li>Dundee \u2014 Overgate Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<li>Dundrum \u2014 Dundrum Town Centre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>E<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:7\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Eastbourne \u2014 Arndale Centre<\/li>\n<li>Edinburgh \u2014 Gyle Centre<\/li>\n<li>Edinburgh \u2014 Princes Street<\/li>\n<li>Edinburgh \u2014 Fort Kinnaird<\/li>\n<li>Enfield \u2014 Palace Gardens \/ Church Street area<\/li>\n<li>Ennis \u2014 Dunnes Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<li>Exeter \u2014 High Street<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>F<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fleetwood \u2014 Freeport Outlet Village<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:8\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>G<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Galway \u2014 Eyre Square Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<li>Gateshead \u2014 Metrocentre<\/li>\n<li>Glasgow \u2014 Glasgow Fort<\/li>\n<li>Glasgow \u2014 Silverburn<\/li>\n<li>Gloucester \u2014 Kings Walk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>H<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hanley \u2014 Potteries Centre<\/li>\n<li>Harlow \u2014 Harvey Centre<\/li>\n<li>Harrogate \u2014 Victoria Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<li>Huddersfield \u2014 Kingsgate Centre<\/li>\n<li>Hull \u2014 Princes Quay Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:9\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>I<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ilford \u2014 The Exchange Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<li>Inverness \u2014 Eastgate Centre<\/li>\n<li>Ipswich \u2014 Buttermarket Centre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>L<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:a\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:b\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>M<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mahon \u2014 Mahon Point Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<li>Manchester \u2014 Arndale<\/li>\n<li>Manchester \u2014 Trafford Centre<\/li>\n<li>Mansfield \u2014 East Midlands Designer Outlet<\/li>\n<li>Milton Keynes \u2014 Centre:MK<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:c\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>N<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Newbridge \u2014 Whitewater Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<li>Newcastle \u2014 Eldon Square<\/li>\n<li>Newtownabbey \u2014 Abbey Centre<\/li>\n<li>Northampton \u2014 Grosvenor Centre<\/li>\n<li>Norwich \u2014 Castle Quarter<\/li>\n<li>Norwich \u2014 St Stephens<\/li>\n<li>Nottingham \u2014 Victoria Centre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>O<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Oldham \u2014 Spindles Town Square<\/li>\n<li>Oxford \u2014 Westgate Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:d\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>P<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Peterborough \u2014 Queensgate<\/li>\n<li>Peterborough \u2014 Serpentine Green<\/li>\n<li>Plymouth \u2014 Drake Circus<\/li>\n<li>Poole \u2014 Dolphin Centre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>R<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:e\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reading \u2014 The Oracle<\/li>\n<li>Redhill \u2014 The Belfry<\/li>\n<li>Romford \u2014 Liberty Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>S<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:f\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:10\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>T<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"custom-prose  \">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Taunton \u2014 Orchard Centre<\/li>\n<li>Telford \u2014 Telford Shopping Centre<\/li>\n<li>Thanet \u2014 Westwood Cross<\/li>\n<li>Thurmaston \u2014 Thurmaston Centre<\/li>\n<li>Thurrock \u2014 Lakeside<\/li>\n<li>Truro \u2014 Lemon Quay<\/li>\n<li>Tunbridge Wells \u2014 Royal Victoria Place<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>U<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$--><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:11\"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator my-6 border-0 border-t border-[#7D7D7D] \"\/><!--\/$--><!--$--><\/p>\n<p><h2>W<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><!--\/$--><!--$?--><template id=\"B:12\"\/><!--\/$--><\/div>\n<p>#Major #high #street #chain #close #stores #restructure<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Another potential blow for the British high street. TG Jones, the high street retailer that snapped up most of WHSmith&#8217;s former stores, is facing the potential closure of around 100 branches under a new debt restructuring plan. Sky News reports that owner Modella is looking to replace its current lender, Secure Trust Bank, in a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5396,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[2495,2510,473,1588,5562,1631,517],"class_list":{"0":"post-5395","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-featured","8":"tag-chain","9":"tag-close","10":"tag-high","11":"tag-major","12":"tag-restructure","13":"tag-stores","14":"tag-street"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5395"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5395\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}