We’re just over a week into May and several retail and restaurant chains have already confirmed closures across the UK slated for this month. Last month, we reported on the closures of multiple retail chains, including The Original Factory Shop, Russell & Bromley, GAME, the London-based Gandys, and New Look. Since then, several other businesses have come forward to announce closures or reveal they’ve fallen into administration, such as Quiz Clothing.
Metro has compiled a list of all the closures and administration announcements for May 2026 – check if your favourite local shop, bank or restaurant is affected.
All May shop closures
Sign up for all of the latest stories. Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
Modella Capital to close former WHSmith shops
Up to 150 former WHSmith shops will be closed as part of a restructuring plan by owner Modella Capital. The investment group, which also owns Hobbycraft, purchased WHSmith last year and rebranded the shops under the TGJones name following temporary closures. Now, 150 of the chain’s 480 high street shops are set to close permanently, as Modella Capital claims that the ‘forced’ name change negatively impacted public awareness of the brand. A spokesperson for Modella Capital said the group is trying to preserve as many jobs as possible, but warns that plans ‘may result in the closure of some stores and the loss of some roles’. They said: ‘The restructuring plan is designed to protect the substantial core of the store estate and create a stronger, more sustainable business that can continue to serve customers for years to come.’ Claire’s Accessories – also owned by Modella Capital – fell into administration in January, resulting in the closure of its 154 stores last month. It has since been snapped up by French entrepreneur Julien Jarjoura, who is currently signing leases to reopen Claire’s stores from next month in what is hoped will be a major high street comeback.
Quiz Clothing falls into administration
Clothing brand Quiz fell into administration earlier this month, raising concerns over the future of its stores. The Glasgow-founded group, which has had a high street presence in the UK and Ireland for 33 years and employs 565 staff, owed more than £40 million when it called in administrators Interpath. The company has 40 stores across England and Scotland, as well as seven concessions in Ireland. For now, they’ll continue to trade ‘business as usual,’ a spokesperson for Quiz said. A total of 109 staff working at the firm’s Glasgow head office and distribution centre have already been made redundant following the announcement, the Herald reported. Stores trading in New Look and Matalan stores are not affected. A Quiz spokesperson told The Telegraph: ‘We have taken the decision to file a Notice of Intention to provide us the time we need to explore all financing options. In the meantime, business as usual.’
Full list of Quiz Clothing stores: Aberdeen, Basingstoke, Belfast-Castlecourt, Bracknell, Cardiff, Carlisle, Castleford, Clydebank, Craigavon, Derby, Dunfermline, Eastbourne, Gateshead-Metro, Glasgow – Braehead, Glasgow – Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow – Fort, Glasgow – St Enoch, Hanley, Hull, Inverness, Irvine, Leeds – Whiterose, Leicester, Livingston, Manchester – Arndale, Manchester – Trafford Centre, Mansfield, Merryhill, Newry, Newtownabbey, Northampton, Norwich, Portsmouth, Romford, Sheffield – Meadowhall, Stirling, Telford, Thurrock – Lakeside, Warrington, Watford. Ireland concession locations: Carlow (Shaws), Drogheda (Shaws), Galway (Anthony Ryans), Kilkenny (Goods of Kilkenny), Letterkenny (Menarys), Sligo (Mullaney Brothers), Wexford (Shaws). Source: Interpath.
Poundstretcher warns of administration
Discount retailer Poundstretcher has warned that it’ll be forced to file for administration if its new restructuring plan is not approved. The high street chain, which was acquired by Fortress Investment Group in 2024, appeared in the High Court earlier this week, during which its financial position was described as ‘poor and unprofitable’. Representatives for Poundstretcher warned that the company has ‘insufficient funds’ to fulfil a £2.8 million payment due on June 28, which would rise to £9.7 million in July due to VAT costs, rent quarter payments, and business charges. The restructuring plan aims to restore Poundstretcher to ‘financial stability’ by negotiating rent costs with landlords, reducing them by 25%, and potentially scrapping rent for underperforming stores in exchange for equity stake. Tom Smith KC for Poundstretcher blamed the retailer’s financial performance on ‘subdued customer confidence, rising operation costs and inflationary pressures’. He also explained how the restructuring plan aims to avoid administration by shifting Poundstretcher’s product mix to include more ‘well-known household brands’ and optimising its store portfolio by opening shops on a ‘selective basis’ in locations with more footfall. The discount retailer has been given the go-ahead to meet with its creditors later this month to vote on the plan. If the plan is not approved, the company has warned that it would be ‘liquidated immediately’.
Which restaurants have closed this month?
Franco Manca
Earlier this month, pizzeria chain Franco Manca announced that it’ll be closing 16 of its 70 restaurants across the UK, including nine branches in London. The 16 locations due to shut have been described as ‘no longer sustainable’, and they include: Battersea, Bishops Stortford, Brixton, Broadway Market, Bromley, Cheltenham, Chiswick, Didsbury, Glasgow, Hove, Kilburn, Lincoln, New Oxford Street, Plymouth, Stoke Newington, Tottenham Court Road.
The Real Greek
Franco Manca’s sister brand, The Real Greek, is also closing restaurants this month after being purchased by the owners of Côte Brasserie in April. Under the agreement, the Karalia Group bought 19 of the Mediterranean chain’s 28 branches, with the remaining nine set to close. The branches shutting include: Bristol, Dulwich Village, Edinburgh, Gloucester Quays, Glasgow, Spitalfields, The Strand, Solihull, Westfield White City.
Beefeater and Brewers Fayre closures
Over 200 Brewers Fayre and Beefeater restaurants are expected to close this month as owner Whitbread, which also owns Premier Inn, plans on converting them into an ‘integrated food and beverage offer’. The locations, typically found inside hotels, employ a total of around 30,000 people, and Whitbread hopes the plan will ‘allow us to take share from our competitors, many of which are struggling to grow’.
The Brewers Fayre restaurants that are closing include: Abergavenny, Afon Conwy, Aire & Calder, Bankhead Gate, Barrow-in-Furness, Barry Island, Bedford South, Bicester, Bideford, Bobbing Apple, Brampton Hut, Brookers Oast, Burton House, The Carousel, Castlewood, Central Park, Cepen Park, Chafford Hundred, Chequers Corner, Cheswold Lodge, The Clarence Pier, Cockermouth, Cottams Field, Craig House, Crossways, Dalesway, Derry City, The Drove, Duke of York, Exeter, The Farrier, Flagstaff Island, Freebridge Farm, Glastonbury, Gordano Gate, The Hampton, Hanley, The Harbour, The Howgate, Inn On The Quay, Inshes Gate, Kembrey Inn, Kincardine Way, King William IV, Lakeland Gate, Lewins Mead, Lock Keeper, Lodmoor, Loggans Moor, Mains of Balquharn, The Marina, The Mayflower, Minehead, Monkey Puzzle, Mulberry Tree, Newhaven Quay, Oakenhurst Farm, Oaks, Ocean Park, Ocean Plaza, Old Nelson, Old West Quay, Orbital, Papermill, Pirnhall Inn, Queens Crossing, The Redwood, Rhubarb Triangle, Rising Sun, Royal Quays, The Sandpiper, Stable Gate, The Swallow, Swansea Vale, Telford Lodge, Tindale Crossing, Tirfounder Fields, Turnpike, Victoria Park, Walsall, Water Mill, The Wessex Flyer, The Wessington, Wheatlea Park, Whittle Inn, Widnes, Willen Dragon, The Windmill, Winsor House.
Meanwhile, the Beefeater restaurants that will close include: The Anchor, The Applecart, Badgers Sett, Bagle Brook, Balmoral Inn, The Barn, The Beacon, The Belgrave, Bentley Green, Border Gate, The Brache, The Brecks, Broomside Park, The Bull, Carnon Inn, Centre, The Coldra, Countess Wear, The Cricketers, Crossbush, Crows Nest, Deer Park, The Dukes Worksop, Eureka Park, Euston Way, The Farmhouse, Farnborough, The Fountain, The Foxburrow, Frome Flyer, George In The Tree, The Gifford, Gourdie Croft, The Granary, Great Oak, Great Yarmouth Seafront, Griff House, Halfway House, Halifax, Hamilton, Harbour Lights, Harlow Mill, The Haywain, Heaton Park, The Kingswood, Lady Nairne, The Ladybridge, The Lakeside, Liberty Bell, London Woolwich, The Longbow, Longbridge, Longford House, The Longwall, The Lydiard, Malta Inn, Manor Farm, Marsh Mills, Medina Quay, Mill House, Mill Lodge, Millers Barn, The Millfield, Moor Mill, Morris Dancers, Morton Park, Moseley Park, Oakley Hay, Oast & Squire, The Orchard, Oxford Kidlington, Oyster Reach, Packet Steamer, The Parkway, The Pavilion, The Plough, Preston Brook, Priory Marina, Quay House, Rackstraws Farm, Red Lion, Redditch, Roman Way, Sir Thomas Wyatt, Smugglers Haunt, The Somerford, The Southcote, Springwood Park, Spruce Goose, Stag & Rainbow, Strawberry Field, The Talpore, The Three Fish, Travellers Rest, The Turnpike, Twelve Bells, Walston Castle, Ware, The Waterfront, The Watermill, White Hart, White Lodge, White Rock, Whitegate Inn, Whitley Bay, The Woolpack.
Bank closures
Santander
Santander has confirmed that 27 of its branches will be shutting this month across the UK. The Spain-based bank is making the changes as part of an overhaul of its store network due to a shift from its customers towards digital services. The 27 branches that will close this month include: Bishop Auckland, Gosport, Haverfordwest, Huntingdon, Pontefract, Welwyn Garden City, Glengormley, Leyland, Mansfield, Merthyr Tydfil, Northallerton, Ringwood, Andover, Bridgend, Enniskillen, Macclesfield, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cwmbran, Golders Green, Heswall, Redditch, Stranraer, Newton Abbot, Stafford, Banbridge, Liskeard, Shirley. More than a dozen branches closed last month, and a further four shops – Leighton Buzzard, Ormskirk, Whitehaven, and Wilmslow – are due to shut by January 2027. The closures aren’t the only changes happening at the high street bank. Santander is reportedly planning on phasing out the TSB bank brand from UK high streets after purchasing the brand for £2.6 billion last year. Under the plans, the two brands will combine and TSB banks will operate under Santander’s UK arm. No changes are expected to happen for at least 12 months, and Santander has not confirmed whether any TSB branches will close.
NatWest
NatWest has also confirmed the closure of 15 branches across the UK, including several in London. The closures are part of NatWest’s transition to online banking, although some of the closures may be replaced by banking hubs, where customers will still be able to access in-person services. The locations that are due to close this month include: Ashford (Middlesex), Barnet, Brentwood, Cheetham Hill, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Eastcote, Harlow, Hartlepool, Hornchurch, Hove, Loughton, Orpington, Portishead, Tooting, Waltham Cross. Additional closures will take place in June, August, and September of this year, with more planned in 2027.
Lloyds Banking Group
Joining Santander and NatWest is Lloyds Banking Group, the company that owns Lloyds Bank, the Bank of Scotland, and Halifax. In May, Halifax will shut its London Hammersmith and Islington Upper Street branches. The Skelmersdale branch in Lancashire will also close. Meanwhile, Lloyds Bank is expected to close its London-based Oxford Street, Tottenham Court Road, Victoria, and Streatham branches, along with its banks in Bournemouth in Dorset and Redhill in Surrey. Further closures are planned for the remainder of the year, including several branches of the Bank of Scotland.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
