Your local Poundland could be closing. Loads of them are, actually. The store that once sold everything for a quid (and then stopped doing that) is closing dozens of its stores. It’s not great.
What’s Going On
Poundland has confirmed that 68 of its stores will close as part of a restructuring plan. In June 2025, they sold the business to Gordon Brothers, an American investment company, for £1. One pound. Quite funny, really.
By September, they had closed 57 shops. Now, even more are closing in November and December. They are down to around 650-700 stores from 800 coming into the year.
Barry Williams, the boss of Poundland, said, “It’s no secret that we have much work to do to get Poundland back on track.”
Translation: we’re in trouble.
Why They’re Shutting
Poundland to close 68 stores, cut jobs, and restructure amidst financial struggles. The company almost went bankrupt in August. And they were going to run out of cash on Sept. 7 unless they could get court approval for their plan.
They got approval. But 1,300 jobs could be lost and dozens of stores closed.
What went wrong? A few things:
- People shop online now. There is Poundland’s website, but it’s not the best on earth.
- The cost-of-living crisis hit everyone. Didn’t help Poundland, though. When everything is expensive, people buy less of everything.
- They stopped selling everything for a pound. Today, things are being priced at £2, £3, and even £5. So what’s the point in going there rather than Home Bargains or B&M?
- Competition got mental. Aldi, Lidl, Home Bargains, B&M, even Primark — they’re all fighting for the same customers.
- And Poundland snapped up tonnes of former Wilko stores after Wilko went bust in 2023. A few of them didn’t pan out.
Which Shops Are Closing
Poundland store closures 2025 started in May. Here’s the Poundland store closures list for recent and upcoming ones:
October:
- Blackpool Cherry Tree (October 25)
- Deal, Kent (October 27)
- Thurrock (October 27)
- Walsall St Matthew’s Quarter (October 29)
- Perry Barr, Birmingham (November 2)
- Matlock (November 2)
November:
- Carlisle St. Nicholas Gate (November 9)
- Burnley Princess Way (November 9)
- Witham (November 12)
- Sidcup (November 14) – partly because of shoplifting
- Loughborough Market Street (November 14)
- Beeston High Road (November 27)
December:
- Melton Mowbray Nottingham Street (December 4)
More are coming in January 2026.
All these are because leases expired and Poundland’s not renewing them. In some cases, landlords evicted them for non-payment of rent.
The Twickenham one closed on October 5 after the landlord served notice. Poundland didn’t choose to leave—they got evicted.
Scotland and the Rest
Poundland closures in Scotland haven’t been as bad as in England, but Scottish shops are affected too. The closures hit England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The Poundland Restructuring Plan
Gordon Brothers invested £90 million. But that does not mean “keep everything the same.” It means slash costs, close unprofitable stores, and do what one can to make what’s left work.
Darren MacDonald, Poundland’s UK manager, said: “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.”
Translation: Massive clearance sales with up to 40% off, as we need to clear our stock.
Those sales started in late October at most closing shops.
What About the Staff
Over 16,000 people worked for Poundland. Now 1,300 jobs are at risk.
Poundland says they’re trying to move staff to other shops. But loads of people are losing their jobs.
Shoppers in Twickenham told reporters they felt bad for the workers. One said: “It’s not fair on the workers—they all have bills to pay.”
Another kept shopping there during the clearance sale to support the staff.
What Shoppers Are Saying
People are gutted about their local Poundlands closing. Well, most people. One Twickenham shopper said Poundland sells “cheap rubbish” and she’s glad it’s going.
But most relied on these shops. When you’re skint, Poundland’s been a lifeline for basics.
Muna, 39, from Twickenham, said there was no warning. She went on holiday for two weeks, came back, and boom—”Everything Must Go” signs everywhere.
Michelle, 46, blamed high rents: “The rent in Twickenham for shops is too high. We need lower rent rates so we can have more shops, because right now there is a death of the high street.”
She’s not wrong. Landlords charge massive rents whilst high streets are dying. Then they act shocked when shops can’t afford it.
The Bigger Problem
This isn’t just Poundland. The Centre for Retail Research reckons 17,349 shops will close across the UK in 2025. That’s 47 shops every single day.
Homebase went bust and closed 65 stores. Morrisons is shutting cafés. Wilko completely collapsed in 2023. The Body Shop closed dozens earlier this year.
The high street’s dying, and nobody knows how to fix it.
What You Should Do
If your local Poundland is closing:
- Check the clearance sales. Up to 40% off sounds good, but check if it’s actually cheaper than normal. Sometimes “clearance” is just normal prices with a sign.
- Find your nearest alternative. Home Bargains, B&M, Savers—figure out where your next bargain shop is now.
- Factor in travel costs. If your nearest shop’s now further away, bus fares or petrol might wipe out any savings.
- The Poundland store closures restructuring plan affects real people. It’s not just business news—it’s your shopping options disappearing.
What’s Next
Poundland’s aiming for 650-700 shops. That’s their “sustainable” number, apparently.
Gordon Brothers pledged £90 million. But can Poundland compete with Aldi, Lidl, Home Bargains, and B&M whilst fighting Amazon? Their brand’s damaged. They’re not the “everything costs a pound” shop anymore.
Some shops might survive if they can negotiate better rents. The 11 they put “on hold” in September might stay open if landlords cooperate.
But realistically? More closures are coming. Leases expire, rents stay high, and Poundland keeps walking away from shops that lose money.
The Bottom Line
68 confirmed closures, probably more coming. 1,300 jobs at risk. Millions of shoppers are losing their local discount store.
Poundland says they’re “securing the future” and “focusing” and all that corporate nonsense. But if your local shop’s one of the 68 closing, those words don’t mean much.
The high street’s changing, and not for the better. Poundland’s just another casualty.
If your local’s still open, enjoy it whilst you can. If it’s closing, grab those clearance bargains before it’s gone.
Fair play to the staff losing jobs. And good luck finding affordable alternatives in a retail world that keeps getting harder.