Several iconic UK high street brands have shuttered stores this week amid escalating operational costs. The British Retail Consortium warns that retailers face an additional £5.6 billion in expenses through 2025 and 2026, driven by reduced rates relief, higher wages, new packaging levies, and rising property values in April 2026. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has indicated that the economic effects of the Iran conflict will persist.
Claire’s Shuts All 154 UK Stores
Claire’s has closed all 154 of its standalone UK stores, impacting around 1,300 employees who now face redundancy. Administrators at Kroll confirmed the move, which spares the brand’s 356 concessions—such as those in Asda supermarkets—and its head office. The chain previously closed 145 stores last year, resulting in about 1,000 job losses. Plans indicate potential reopenings of four to 10 stores weekly starting in June.
Russell & Bromley Completes 33 Store Closures
Shoe retailer Russell & Bromley, founded in 1880, has finalized the closure of 33 stores and nine concessions not acquired by Next. The last sites shut on April 23, following an initial announcement of 10 closures on April 21. The company employed 320 staff prior to the shutdowns. Administrators at Interpath stated: “All stores that did not transfer to Next as part of that transaction closed on or before 23 April 2026. Regrettably, these closures mean that the majority of employees working in the non-transferring stores have been made redundant. The administrators and their teams are engaging closely with all affected staff and will be providing support throughout the process, including assisting individuals in submitting claims to the redundancy payments service. The administrators continue to oversee the wind-down of the remaining parts of the business and will provide further updates as appropriate.”
LK Bennett Closes Nine Luxury Stores
Luxury fashion label LK Bennett, favored by Princess Kate and Queen Camilla, has closed nine stores after entering administration. The sites were slated to shut by late April, though stock cleared faster than anticipated. Thirteen remaining concessions continue trading until stock depletes. The brand filed for administration in January without securing a buyer, affecting roughly 90 jobs. Gordon Brothers’ brand management division acquired the LK Bennett brand and its intellectual property. Nimit Shah, managing director for the EMEA region at Gordon Brothers, commented: “We believe the LK Bennett brand is capable of reinvigoration under a new asset-light model.”
Ark Pet Centres Ends 30-Year Run
Ark Pet Centres, with outlets in South and East Devon including Plymouth, Exeter, and Torbay, has closed all stores effective April 23. A spokesperson announced: “It is with huge regret and sadness that we announce that after 30 years of trading, we will be shutting our doors for good as of today – 23rd April. This affects all stores. Whilst we have all worked incredibly hard to weather the economic storm, we can no longer sustain the increasing pressure and huge rising costs, and with more increases on the horizon, we have had to make the heartbreaking decision to cease trading. We would like to thank our wonderful team who have worked hard to make The Ark what it was – and we truly wish them all the very best for the future. To our loyal customers – thank you, we appreciate you and we truly will miss serving you and your pets. We never set out to be a ‘pet shop’, we wanted to be a place where local people could get help and advice on pet care from people they trusted, and we’re proud to have done that for the last 30 years. We have loved every minute of this from day one, thank you for being part of our journey.”
