Six iconic UK stores that have collapsed over the years - from Woolworths to BHS
From Debenhams to BHS, the UK high street has lost several iconic stores over the past decades.
Several iconic retailers have crashed and burned under the pressures of the high street over the past few decades, leaving thousands without jobs and millions in unpaid debts.
In 2024 alone, the UK lost about 37 shops every day, equivalent to almost 13,500 retail stores, according to the Centre for Retail Research.
Stores have blamed changing customer behaviours, the pandemic, competition from online shops, and the spiralling costs associated with the high street.
Last year, WHSmith drastically reduced its footprint to focus on its transport locations, and banks announced widespread closures. Fashion retailer River Island will close several stores this year, as will Cancer Research UK and Poundland.
But before all of this, the high street lost beloved stores like Woolworths and BHS. The Express has pulled together six of the most iconic British retailers that have closed over the decades.
Woolworths was a "jack of all trades", selling everything from toiletries to children's toys and sweets.
However, its food offering struggled to compete with supermarkets, while marketplaces like Amazon were booming in the entertainment sector.
By 2008, the chain was in crisis, and by the time it collapsed, the chain owed £385million.
Analysts blame its abomination on low cash and crippling debt, exacerbated by the 2008 financial crisis.
The closure of 815 stores upset UK shoppers, but also left some 27,000 workers out of a job.
BHS was marred by pension scandals, a questionable sale in 2015, and struggled against newer and fresher fast-fashion rivals.
Between 2008 and 2014, BHS lost an average of about £70million a year.
It had kept almost half of its pension scheme assets in the stock market, but after the financial crisis, share prices drastically fell.
By the time the retailer confirmed administration in 2016, it had a massive pension deficit of more than £570million.
Its controversial sale by Sir Philip Green to Dominic Chappell for just £1 in 2015 was thought to have accelerated its demise, as the company lacked the cash flow to survive another year.
The new owner had been declared bankrupt twice and had millions of pounds in debt after a failed enterprise to build a marina.
Mr Chappell claimed others made the BHS turnaround impossible, while Sir Philip Green suggested new management crashed the chain.
The travel agent began life organising railway outings in Victorian Britain in 1841. Fast forward to the 21st century, and it grew to have 19 million customers a year and 22,000 staff operating across 16 countries.
But the emergence of DIY online booking services, like Expedia and Airbnb, brought stiff competition to the agency.
Then, a disastrous merger in 2007 with MyTravel left the company in serious financial trouble.
By 2019, Thomas Cook reported a £1.5billion loss for the first half of its financial year, with £1.1billion attributed to the decision to write down the value of My Travel.
When it failed to secure a final £200million lifeline from banks in late 2019, it entered compulsory liquidation.
Some 150,000 holidaymakers were left stranded, and the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport worked to get them home.
Launched in 1778 as a single drapers' store in London, it grew astronomically to become a major department store chain after partnering with William Debenham in 1813. By 1950, the chain had 110 stores across the UK.
However, experts said Debenhams fell behind the fashion trends and became a victim of high-street rents and online shopping.
Profits began to fall, and it was placed in administration twice before it finally left the high street. The retailer booked a record £491.5million loss in 2018.
The COVID-19 lockdowns were the final nail in the coffin, and by the end of 2020, Debenhams had solidified plans to close all 124 of its stores after efforts to save the chain failed.
The brand was eventually bought by Boohoo, but only as an online-only website.