Despite the recent announcement WHSmith has sold its High Street operation to Modella Capital, owners of Lakeland and Hobbycraft, it hasn’t ended the ongoing closure of its in town stores.
The company will soon close at least ten WHSmith High Street stores, with as many as 20 potentially shutting down in the next few months. Some will close this weekend.
News that WHSmith planned to sell its WHSmith High Street operation first broke in January, after sales fell 6% in the second half of 2024, the company focusing instead on its travel stores, which continue to be successful in the UK and overseas,
WHSmith recently announced its high street stores would change name to TG Jones later this year, following a £76 million buyout by Modella Capital, the owners of Hobbycraft. While reaction to the change has been mixed, the new name prompting bemusement from some (some suggesting it was a better name for a butcher’s, for example, perhaps started by Dad’s Army fans), industry insiders still feel the takeover might mean a better deal for publishers keen to maintain a high street presence.
The following stores will close down soon, with “fire sales” of stock.
• Halstead, Essex – Saturday 12th April 2025
• Woolwich, London – Saturday 12th April 2025
• Halesowen, West Midlands – Saturday 19th April 2025
• Diss, Norfolk – Saturday 19th April 2025
• Newport, Wales – Saturday 26th April 2025
• Haverhill, Suffolk – Saturday 26th April 2025
• Oldham, Greater Manchester – Saturday 3rd May 2025
• Stockton, County Durham – Saturday 17th May 2025
• West Mall, Frenchgate Centre, Doncaster – Saturday 31st May 2025
• Bedford, Bedfordshire – Saturday 5th July 2025
WHSmith closed several stores last year, including Alfreton, Ramsgate, Oban, Nantwich, Margate, Bridgwater, and Sale; and, this year, so far, stores in Accrington, Basingstoke, Bolton, Bournemouth (Old Christchurch Road), Long Eaton, Luton, Newtown, Powys and Rhyl.
• WHSmith PLC is online at whsmithplc.co.uk
• WHSmith PLC Locations Worldwide
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Magazines, Other Worlds
Best of British remembers Scream! 
Daft Dimension Doctor Who strips offered on eBay 
New Doctor Who multimedia project, Circuit Breaker, announced 
Hachette’s 2000AD: The Ultimate Collection draws to a close
Not all of the closures make the online lists either. I was surprised to see Camberley’s store gone last time I was there a few weeks ago.
Yep likewise in Scotland, Elgin lost their one in January with the sudden closure of the St Giles shopping centre it was located in 🙁