Four Poundland branches across England and Wales are set to shut their doors this month, in a move described by the retailer as part of a routine review of its store portfolio. Affected locations include London, Kent, Liverpool and Bridgend, with closures scheduled throughout May.
The discount chain, which operates more than 800 outlets in the UK and Ireland, has confirmed that these closures are tied to expiring leases and commercial viability, rather than a wider retrenchment. Staff at the affected stores are being supported through internal redeployment options, according to the company.
Closures Span London, Liverpool, Kent and Wales
The first confirmed closure will be Clapham Junction in south London, which ceased trading on 2 May after three years of operation.
A notice placed at the entrance to the store informed customers of the shutdown and directed them to a nearby alternative in the Southside Shopping Centre. This was followed by the announcement of the closure of the St George’s Centre store in Gravesend, Kent.
In the north-west, the Belle Vale Shopping Centre branch in Liverpool has also been earmarked for closure in the coming weeks. Finally, Brackla Shopping Centre in Bridgend, Wales, will see its Poundland store close on 24 May, rounding out the quartet of affected locations.
A spokesperson for Poundland stated, “We know how disappointing this will be to customers and colleagues. Whenever we have to close a store in these circumstances, we do all we can to look for other opportunities for colleagues, and that work is now underway.”
Broader Retail Context Underlines Sector Challenges
These closures come amid broader headwinds in the UK retail sector. According to a recent report by the British Retail Consortium, the Treasury’s increase to employer National Insurance contributions is expected to add £2.3 billion in costs to retailers.
The findings, based on a survey of more than 4,800 businesses, reveal that 55% of firms anticipate raising prices in the next three months — up significantly from 39% in the second half of 2024.
Reactions to local closures have highlighted the impact on high streets. In Gravesend, residents expressed frustration, with some describing the town centre as increasingly deserted. “All the decent shops have gone,” one local commented, while another said, “The town has lost so many shops and market used to be bustling now dying bit by bit, be a ghost town.”
