A major shake-up is hitting the UK high street as discount retailer Poundland confirms a wave of store closures, beginning with a dozen shops shutting their doors this January.
The January Closure Wave: Locations and Dates
Poundland will close 12 stores across England and Scotland in January 2026, with a further two closures scheduled for February. The company, headquartered in Willenhall near Birmingham, states this is part of a broader restructuring that will see its estate significantly reduced.
The confirmed list of January closures is as follows:
- Bexhill, East Sussex – January 5
- Ponders End, Greater London – January 5
- Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland – January 5
- Faversham, Kent – January 6
- Mitcham, Greater London – January 14
- Liverpool, Merseyside – January 15
- Yeovil, Somerset – January 16
- Cameron Toll, Edinburgh, Scotland – January 20
- Nottingham Eastpoint, Nottinghamshire – January 22
- Lymington, Hampshire – January 23
- Christchurch (47 High Street), Dorset – January 23
- Bristol Avon Meads, Bristol – January 29
Two additional stores will close in early February: the Winton, Dorset branch on February 6 and the Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire shop on February 8.
A Major Restructuring Plan Unfolds
This latest round of closures is not an isolated event. It follows the chain's acquisition by investment firm Gordon Brothers for a nominal sum of £1, which triggered a major overhaul. An initial tranche of 57 store closures was announced, putting over 1,000 jobs at risk.
Darren MacDonald, Poundland’s UK country manager, commented on the latest closures: "We know how disappointing it is when we leave a store, but before we close our doors for a final time, we’re determined to say goodbye by offering even more amazing value to customers."
He added that special reductions would be offered and emphasised that the retailer would continue to operate hundreds of stores nationwide.
The Big Picture: Over 100 Closures by Early 2026
The scale of the change is substantial. By the time these latest closures are complete, Poundland will have shut more than 100 shops in the UK since the restructuring began. The strategic goal is to trim its overall estate from around 800 sites to a more sustainable portfolio of between 650 and 700 stores.
This significant reduction marks a pivotal moment for one of Britain's most recognisable discount chains and signals continued turbulence for the nation's high streets as retailers adapt to changing consumer habits and economic pressures.
