Discount retail giant Poundland has confirmed further closures across the UK – including multiple branches across the North – as part of a major overhaul of its estate following a dramatic change in ownership.
The latest wave of closures includes the store in Whitby, after previous closures in Macclesfield, Liverpool’s Belle Vale Shopping Centre, and Barrow. The Whitby branch will close its doors on September 3.
These are among 24 confirmed closures so far in 2025, as the embattled high street brand undergoes a restructuring that could see up to 68 stores permanently closed.
Poundland was acquired earlier this year by investment firm Gordon Brothers, the former owners of Laura Ashley, for just £1 — a stark sign of the brand’s recent turmoil. The chain had previously been owned by Polish parent company Pepco Group since 2016.
Under its new owners, Poundland is pivoting away from some of its current offerings. Plans include scrapping frozen food in certain stores, axing online sales, and putting more emphasis on seasonal goods and womenswear ranges in-store.
READ MORE: Poundland names Cheshire agency to handle multimillion pound marketing campaign
The closures come as part of a bid to slim the retailer’s footprint from around 800 sites to between 650 and 700.
Local reactions to the Northern closures have ranged from disappointment to concern over the loss of affordable retail options in communities already hit hard by high street decline.
More closures across the UK — including in Stratford-upon-Avon, Telford, Newquay, and Pontypool — are expected in the coming weeks.
