Which Bolton shops closed their doors this year?

The closures come amid sustained pressure on household finances, high inflation for much of the year and rising operating costs for businesses.

As a result, a number of major chains entered administration or launched restructuring plans, leading to widespread job losses nationwide and a visible impact locally.

Poundland

Value retailer Poundland has faced significant upheaval after being sold for £1 to investment firm Gordon Brothers.

The company initially announced the closure of 57 stores, placing more than 1,000 jobs at risk, with further tranches of closures confirmed later in the year.

However, Poundland has confirmed that its Bolton store is not affected by the current proposals and is not among the 68 sites earmarked for closure, despite the chain being on course to shut more than 100 stores nationally by early 2026 as it trims its estate.

WH Smith

WH Smith closed its Bolton town centre store on February 15, ending the retailer’s long-standing presence on the high street.

The group sold all of its UK high street shops to private equity firm Modella Capital to focus on its travel business.

Around 20 stores were closed as part of the process, with the remaining estate set to be rebranded as TGJones.

Claire’s

Claire’s is set to close its Market Place Shopping Centre store in Bolton in December after the UK arm of the fashion accessories chain fell into administration.

Although Modella Capital struck a deal to rescue 156 stores nationwide, 145 branches closed, affecting around 1,000 workers.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut announced its closure in October.

Its dine-in restaurant at Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park after the company operating the brand’s UK dine-in sites entered administration.

In total, 68 restaurants closed across the country, alongside 11 delivery sites, placing 1,210 jobs at risk.

Yum! Brands later acquired the remaining UK operation, saving 64 restaurants, but Bolton’s site was not among them.

Bodycare

Discount beauty retailer Bodycare closed its Market Place Bolton branch on September 16 as part of the permanent shutdown of all 150 of its UK stores.

The Lancashire-founded business struggled with rising costs, funding shortages and stock issues, despite employing around 1,000 people earlier in the year.

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Select Fashion

Select Fashion closed all of its stores nationwide and entered liquidation in 2025 after failing to secure a buyer.

The Bolton branch at Crompton Place Shopping Centre was set for closure in late 2023 early 2024 already with the shopping centre itself scheduled for demolition in 2026.

Homebase

Home improvement retailer Homebase permanently closed its store inside Tesco Extra in Walkden, one of 65 locations shut between January and March.

The closures followed the company’s administration in late 2024.

Although the brand was acquired by Retail group CDS, not all sites were saved.

Fired Earth

Upmarket tile retailer Fired Earth entered administration in October and closed all 20 of its UK showrooms, including its Bolton store.

While Topps Tiles acquired the Fired Earth brand, intellectual property and stock, none of the physical showrooms were retained, resulting in 133 job losses.

New Look

Despite closures elsewhere, New Look’s Market Place Shopping Centre store in Bolton remains open.

The branch was previously selected as one of 21 stores nationwide to undergo a major refurbishment and continues to trade, even as the retailer closed 15 UK stores and exited the Republic of Ireland.

River Island

River Island shut 33 stores nationwide following a restructuring plan aimed at securing the business’s future.

However, the River Island store in Market Place Bolton remains open and was not affected by the closures.

Hobbycraft

Arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft announced plans to close nine stores across the UK earlier this year.

The Bolton store at Gate Retail Park was unaffected and continues to trade as normal.