A popular high street chain has closed 19 more branches as part of a nationwide restructuring plan.
TG Jones, formerly known as WH Smith, has been forced to shut stores under a High Court-approved plan to avoid insolvency, affecting locations across the country.
The closures are part of a wider strategy that could see around 150 stores close, following ongoing financial struggles and a restructuring scheme backed by the High Court in July.
TG Jones shuts 19 sites as part of plans for 150 closures
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As of the end of September, 19 stores had closed or were due to.
More closures are expected to follow throughout October.
The list of September closures includes sites in Cambridge, Swindon, Southend, and Bath, as well as locations in Redcar, Market Harborough, Uckfield, Helston, Deal, and Exmouth.
Other branches that shut last month include Redhill, Basildon, Rustington, Clevedon, Greenford, Kenilworth, and Frome.
The chain, which operates around 450 stores and employs approximately 4,700 staff, was rebranded as TG Jones last year after being sold to Modella.
WH Smith has retained its travel stores in airports and train stations.
TG Jones has not confirmed how many jobs will be lost as a result of the planned 150 closures, but has acknowledged that the plans put roles at risk.
Closing-down sales have begun in several TG Jones shops across the UK, with customers also able to access discounts online.
The TG Jones website is giving customers the chance to buy items for as little as £1, with everything from gift bags to books and toys included in the closing-down sale.
TG Jones, formerly WHSmith, is continuing to close UK sites (Image: Getty Images)
The retailer warned online customers: “Don’t miss your last chance to buy and grab your favourites for less today – once items in our Sale are gone, they really are gone forever!”
Online offers include:
TG Jones restructuring plans explained
As well as store closures, the restructuring plan includes an additional £15 million loan from Modella Capital, on top of £10 million provided in April.
It also includes reduced rent rates for landlords.
After the plans were approved, Alex Willson, chief executive of TG Jones, said: “We welcome the court’s approval of our restructuring plan.
“This decision allows us to move ahead with our turnaround strategy.
“The plan protects the substantial core of the store estate and makes TG Jones a stronger, more sustainable business.
“We are incredibly grateful to all the colleagues, partners and stakeholders who engaged constructively throughout the process, and to Modella Capital for its continued financial commitment.”
Tom Smith KC, representing TG Jones, said the company has faced a “long-term sales decline” made worse by high inflation, rising operating costs, and the shift to online shopping.
He also said the rebranding from WH Smith has negatively impacted sales.
WH Smith was originally established in 1792 by Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna in Mayfair, London.
After their deaths, the business was taken over by their son, William Henry Smith, who grew the company throughout the 19th century.
The last member of the Smith family left the board in 1996.
UK restaurant chain shuts all 195 sites after 52 years
TG Jones closures were not the only major chain to shut sites this month.
All Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites closed their doors for the final time earlier in September as part of a major restructure by parent company Whitbread.
The company also closed its Bar + Block, Table Table and Cookhouse + Pub sites this month, bringing the total to 195 sites across the country.
The closures came after Whitbread announced a five-year growth strategy and restructuring plan earlier this year, placing around 3,800 jobs at risk.
The restructure is designed to refocus the business and achieve £250 million in cost savings.
All Beefeater sites across the UK have now closed (Image: Getty Images)
Whitbread plans to convert some of the restaurant sites into additional Premier Inn rooms and sell off around £1.5 billion worth of freehold properties to fund further expansion.
The group currently owns about 86,600 hotel rooms and aims to grow this to 96,000 by the 2031 financial year.
Although Whitbread said it aims to redeploy many of the affected staff elsewhere in the business, it confirmed that the changes will result in significant job losses.
A company statement said: “We recognise the impact of this proposal on colleagues who work at the affected sites.
“As a business which recruits around 15,000 people every year, we expect to be able to retain a significant proportion of those affected and will be looking to redeploy as many of our impacted colleagues as possible.
“However, we do anticipate that the proposed changes, which are subject to consultation, would result in a reduction of around 3,800 roles of a total UK and Ireland workforce of around 30,000.
“We will do all we can to support those colleagues affected.”
Brewers Fayre locations shut for the final time on Monday, September 7, with Beefeater following suit a few days later on Thursday, September 10.
Both were the staple chains for Whitbread, and have been a part of the UK restaurant scene for decades.
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Beefeater was founded 52 years ago in 1974, and expanded significantly in 1995 when Whitbread acquired and rebranded the rival Berni Inn chain to Beefeater, which had 115 locations.
At its peak, Beefeater had more than 250 locations by the late 1990s.
Brewers Fayre was founded slightly later in 1981 and had expanded to more than 100 locations nationwide by the end of the 1980s.
Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026
It has been a tough year for the UK high street, with several other retailers entering administration or liquidation and others announcing widespread store closures.
Major high street brands LK Bennett, Claire’s, and Quiz have been forced to close all their remaining stores after falling into administration.
UK fashion retailer Leading Labels also closed its remaining stores after falling into liquidation in May.
Wynsors World of Shoes is shutting 17 stores across the UK, with closing down sales already underway at several affected branches.
Other retailers have been forced to close stores this year, including:
Several UK travel companies have ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:
Wayfairer Travel Limited has also suspended all services “until further notice” as it looks to appoint an administrator.
Meanwhile, four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation:
It hasn’t all been bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.
Meanwhile, brands including Evans and Bodycare have returned to the UK high street this year after previously closing all their stores.
What is your favourite high street shop to visit? Let us know in the comments.
