UK high street sees hundreds of shop and restaurant closures

Hundreds of shops and restaurants across the United Kingdom have closed during September 2026 as part of major corporate restructuring plans.

TG Jones, a stationery and bookshop chain formerly known as WH Smith and owned by Modella Capital, is undergoing a significant downsizing. The company plans to close a total of 150 locations to avoid administration, with 19 closures confirmed for September. These include locations in Bath, Cambridge, Swindon, and London, among others.

In the hospitality sector, Whitbread, the operator of Premier Inn, has confirmed the closure of over 260 restaurants. This includes 106 Beefeater locations and 89 Brewers Fayre sites. The company stated the closures are part of a strategic shift toward an ‘integrated food and beverage offer’ to manage ongoing financial pressures. Other affected chains include various pub and bar brands and the corner shop chain Foreways.