Another major name is pulling out of town centres across the country, as New Look continues to slim down its presence on the British high street.
The fashion retailer, which once operated more than 600 outlets in the UK, now has just over 330 after years of restructuring. And more closures are on the way – with the next branch set to shut its doors on September 17, when the Scarborough store at the Brunswick Centre closes for good.
It follows a string of closures this year, including sites in Wales, Scotland, Essex, and Cornwall. This marks a worrying trend for shoppers who are seeing familiar fashion names vanish from their high streets.
The chain has been hit by rising costs and changing shopping habits. The company points to higher employment costs after the government’s recent National Insurance changes and the ongoing shift towards online retail.
Despite the cuts, New Look says it is still investing heavily in its online platform and testing new “omni-channel” store formats, including a £3 million investment across Greater Manchester earlier this year.
A spokesperson explained: “Our store estate is an important part of our business, alongside our best-in-class website and app.”
“It is this omni-channel approach which allows us to best serve our 10 million customers, however they like to shop.”
The closures this year have left gaps on several high streets, with some branches still standing empty months after shutting down. Wickford in Essex, which was the first to close in January after 15 years of trading, has not yet found a replacement tenant.
Full list of New Look closures in the UK during 2025
Brunswick Centre, Scarborough (closing September 17)
Neath, Wales
Hamilton, Scotland
Birmingham, Northfield Shopping Centre
Willow Place, Corby
Bexleyheath, London
Preston
Valley Retail World, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
St Austell, Cornwall
Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales
Wickford, Essex
Carillon Court Shopping Centre, Loughborough
Devizes, Wiltshire
