A POPULAR outdoor clothing chain is set to close six stores and has launched a huge closing down sale at each branch.

Millets has launched clearance sales at six of its stores in recent weeks, and shoppers can get 30% off all stock.

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All of the affected are expected to close early in the New Year.

However, four of these locations will be reopened and rebranded as GO Outdoors, a sister brand to Millets.

These include sites in Lowestoft, Douglas, York and Grimsby.

Millets in Burgess Hill, West Sussex will not be rebranded and is set to close permanently in January. 

Millets stocks big-name brands, including the likes of Berghaus, The North Face and Jack Wolfskin.

As of November 11, the retailer operates 67 branches across the UK.

The rebranding of the three stores to Go Outdoors sites indicates that JD Outdoors, the owner of Millets, is prioritising the expansion of its sister brand.

Founded in Sheffield in 1998, the company has swiftly risen to become one of the most recognised names in the outdoor retail market.

There are now 96 Go Outdoors sites across the county.

Like Millets, GO Outdoors offers everything needed for camping trips and other outdoor activities, stocking the same big brands.

HISTORY OF MILLETS

MILLETS, a staple in the outdoor clothing and equipment market, has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1893.

Originally established in Southampton, the store began as a drapery business before evolving to specialise in camping and outdoor gear.

Over the decades, Millets expanded its product range to include various outdoor clothing, footwear, and equipment, catering to adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts.

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In the mid-20th century, the brand gained popularity for its quality products and reliable customer service, leading to the opening of numerous stores across the UK.

Millets became synonymous with outdoor exploration, from camping and hiking to mountaineering and beyond.

In 1986, it formed Millets Leisure plc.

This became the Outdoor Group in 1996 with 158 stores, which was bought by Blacks Leisure plc in 1999. 

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In recent years, Millets has continued to adapt to the changing retail landscape, embracing online shopping while maintaining a strong high street presence.

Despite facing challenges in the competitive market, the brand remains a go-to destination for outdoor gear and is known for its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Today, Millets is part of the JD Sports Fashion plc group.

However, unlike Millets, GO Outdoors offers a Membership Card, which grants access to unbeatable prices across various departments. The card can be purchased online or in-store for just £5 a year.

It can be purchased online or in-store for just £5 a year.

With the membership card, customers can access exclusive discounts and a price match guarantee, ensuring they always receive the best deal.

Lee Bagnall, CEO of JD Outdoors, said: “We always aim to provide the best possible experience for our customers, so by converting these stores to a GO Express, customers will be able to benefit from the GO Outdoors loyalty programme, which offers exclusive and more affordable prices for members.”

HIGH STREET WOES

Retailers have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.

High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.

The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past two years, and more are coming.

Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.

Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023’s biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.

However, The Centre for Retail Research said that most store closures relate to companies trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing.

MILLIONS of households could slash their energy bills if they understand how a simple radiator setting works.

Adjusting the numbered valves on the ends of your radiators could save a fortune this winter.

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These clever devices are known as thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs).

TRVs function by regulating the flow of hot water from your boiler into your radiator.

This can help reduce the amount of gas your boiler needs to burn to heat your central heating system – but only when they’re used correctly.

The Sun spoke to Rob Nezard, plumber and managing director of UKRadiators.com, to find out exactly what those numbers on our TRVs really mean.

Rob said one of the most common questions that he gets asked as a plumber is: “What do the numbers on a thermostatic radiator valves mean?”

Many people mistakenly believe these numbers reflect the radiator’s temperature.

In reality, they are entirely related to the room’s temperature.

Rob said: “TRVs have clever mechanisms, sometimes using liquid or wax, that will shut off the flow of hot water to an individual radiator when the room temperature is at its desired level.

“Installing thermostatic radiator valves is like having a boiler thermostat control in every room without interacting with the boiler directly.

“The numbers on the TRV typically range from 1 to 5 or 6, and most also have a frost symbol – this indicates that the TRV is in frost protection mode.”

This crucial function prevents pipes and radiators in unused rooms from freezing, thereby protecting your heating system and home.

However, the whole point of a TRV is to detect the temperature of a room and then control how much hot water is let into the radiator.

If the room is cold, the TRV will sense this and allow more hot water to enter the radiator to heat it quickly. 

As the room warms, the TRV will restrict the hot water flow to maintain the desired temperature.

When the room temperature drops, the TRV will again allow more hot water in, repeating the cycle.

Rob said that the number settings on a TRV roughly correspond to the room temperatures below:

• 0 = 0°C (off)
• ✱ = 5°C (usually shown as a snowflake or full stop symbol)
• 1 = 12°C
• 2 = 16°C
• 3 = 20°C
• 4 = 24°C
• 5 = 28°C
• 6 = 32°C

Rob added: “TRVs give you total control of your heating, meaning you don’t need to heat rooms you aren’t using, and they are designed to switch off when they reach the right temperature.

“Savings are estimated at between £55 and £180 per year for a typical three-bed semi.”

What numbers should I set my TRVs to?

During the winter months, Rob recommends that households to set their TRV to 2 or 3 in smaller rooms.

Those going away this winter should keep their radiator TRV on the lowest setting so that the radiators will come on for a short while if the temperature drops below 7°C.

However, Rob warned against turning your TRVs to five.

This is because you are telling the boiler not to stop letting hot water into the radiator until the room reaches a very high temperature (around 30°C).

Households should only have TRVs on five or their maximum setting in rooms requiring short and sharp heat.

How else can I cut my heating bills?

If you turn your boiler’s flow temperature down you could save around £180 annually on your energy bills.

A couple managed to cut £400 off their EDF Energy bill by turning off their immersion heater.

Topping up loft insulation and switching to a smart meter can also bring a household further savings.

Reducing draughts and heat loss will also help to cut your heating costs so grab some draught excluders and consider increasing your insulation.

It’s also important to consider which rooms in your home need heating.

You won’t be using each one 24/7, so ensure the heating is set to frost protection in any rooms that aren’t occupied.

There is also a list of other common boiler problems we’ve rounded up that could be pumping up your bills.

What energy bill help is available?

There’s a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.

If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.

This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.

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If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.

Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.

But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.

For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.

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British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.

You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.

EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.

Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).

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The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.

Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.

MORE Brits are facing pulling their own teeth out — as the hike on employers’ costs is set to prove a pain for dentists.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is already facing fury over her £25billion Budget raid on firms by hiking National Insurance Contributions and lowering the threshold at which they kick in.

But for dentists the rise is said to be an “existential threat to services”.

The industry is already in crisis — with 13 million Brits unable to get an appointment — while 97 per cent of new patients trying to access NHS dental care in the last year were unsuccessful.

But the average surgery is now facing an extra £30,000 in costs.

The British Dental Association warned that NHS providers cannot access an employment allowance set up to soften the blow for small businesses.

It said hundreds are already running at a loss and the extra burden “will push more of them closer to the brink with no choice other than to move away from NHS services”.

The dental group said it will lead to price hikes for patients — and raise wait times for those in need.

A spokesman for the organisation said yesterday: “We already are seeing people ripping out their own teeth or being tricked by scammers because they’re desperate.

“This is going to get much worse these extra costs are the nail in the coffin for many dental providers.”

In a letter sent to Ms Reeves it argues Labour has gone back on its promise of rebuilding dentistry by “recycling existing budgets” and failing to “reflect the soaring expenses colleagues now face”.

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UK’s £45m for Snow White

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DISNEY’S woke new version of Snow White received £45million in British taxpayers’ cash, documents reveal.

The live-action reimagining, due out in March, has cost Disney £217.7million in production already, company filings show.

It was made at Pinewood Studios, near Iver, Bucks, directly employing 419 people over the last two years.

Disney benefited from generous government tax credits that allowed it to recover a quarter of the amount it spent, provided the UK accounts for at least 10 per cent of the production’s total costs.

The tax boost comes as Disney is due to announce on Thursday it made £17billion in revenues in the last three months.

Film studios argue that tax credits make the UK a more attractive destination for investment and Labour has committed to maintaining them.

Disney said that in the last five years it had invested £3.5billion into the UK, directly supporting 32,000 jobs on a variety of film and streaming projects.

The firm’s new version of Snow White has already been engulfed in racism, sexism and political rows — including stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot at loggerheads on social media over their opposing views on the Israel-Hamas war.

Zegler also infuriated fans by calling the original 1937 animated movie “creepy” and referring to Prince Charming as a “stalker”.

Crypto’s Trumped FTSE100

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DONALD Trump’s victory in the US Presidential election has sent the cryptocurrency market’s value surging above the total of London’s FTSE 100.

Bitcoin surged above $84,000 for the first time yesterday, pushing the total value of all cryptocurrencies to $2.77trillion in anticipation of a more crypto-friendly environment in Washington.

That is higher than the combined value of London’s top 100 listed companies at £2.09trillion ($2.69trillion).

Mr Trump accepted millions of dollars of crypto donations during his campaign trail and in September he and his children started their own crypto business called World Liberty Financial.

Bitcoin is still unregulated in the UK, meaning investors are highly vulnerable to losses. Two years ago investors lost more than $2trillion when Bitcoin’s value lost 70 per cent in six months.

Direct jobs axe

DIRECT LINE has revealed plans to axe around 550 jobs as its new boss grapples with a turnaround of the insurer.

The firm wants to save £50million in costs by 2025 and the cuts are equivalent to more than 5 per cent of its 9,000 workforce.

It comes as the firm said it lost 71,000 motor insurance customers in the last three months.

CEO Adam Winslow said: “We are in the early stages of a significant turnaround and our third-quarter trading is not yet fully reflective of the actions we have taken.”

HEATHROW is on track for a record year, as Europe’s busiest airport had more than 7.2million passengers travelling last month.

The airport now expects to handle a record 83.8 million in 2024, more than its 80.9 million pre-pandemic record in 2019.

TESCO has unveiled its Christmas advert for 2024 and it could be a real tear-jerker for some.

The heart-wrenching film features a man called Gary who is trying to navigate Christmas while mourning the loss of his grandmother.

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The festive reel brings to life how Christmas can be an emotional time for many people.

Set to the tune of Melancholy Hill by Gorillaz, the ad opens with Gary visiting his grandfather and the camera pans to an image of his late gran.

As the star of the advert gets up to leave, his grandfather hands him a packet of Tesco gingerbread men.

When Gary takes a bite of the biscuit, his world is transformed into a magical landscape when a gingerbread scooter driving past bursts open with candy canes and sweet treats.

But viewers quickly see this magical world start to crumble as his Christmas spirit dips when he thinks about the absence of his grandmother at this special time.

He then decides to rekindle a tradition of building a gingerbread house; something he used to do with his grandmother.

Viewers then see Gary and his grandfather unite to relive
the tradition – and their home-made biscuit build takes pride
of place on the Christmas table.

Here viewers get a glimpse of Tesco’s Christmas range including
a turkey and pigs in blankets.

The ad concludes with the family sitting down to enjoy their Christmas meal.

Their festive spirit peaks and we can see the exterior of Grandad’s house transform into gingerbread too.

Becky Brock, group customer director at Tesco, said: “We want our Christmas campaign to connect people with the joy of moments that help feed our Christmas spirit and showcase how Tesco can help you do just that.

“We appreciate that even if you love Christmas, there can be
little things that eat away at your Christmas spirit as well as things that help to feed it.”

Tesco has also announced a 10p donation to charities Trussell and FareShare for every gingerbread product sold this Christmas.

The advert will air during ITV’s Martin Lewis Money Show and Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off.

Tesco Christmas adverts through the years

The ad is similar to its 2023 reel, which featured a Dad transforming into a Christmas tree, only this time it is gingerbread men.

The year before that, Tesco’s ad was centred around highlighting how affordable its goods were to buy.

In 2021, its advert was set to the tune of Dont Stop Me Now by Queen and it aimed to encourage customers to enjoy the holidays following the pandemic.

Meanwhile, its 2020 advert joked that no one was on the naughty list after it had been a difficult year due to the coronavirus.

TBS has issued a warning over a £100 charge that could hit some bank account customers.

It comes as households prepare their shopping lists for Black Friday and Christmas spending.

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The high street bank analysed cases between January and October 2024 in which customers had been tricked into transferring money to fraudsters.

Tickets for concerts and football matches are among the items that scammers often offer – as are clothing including trainers, children’s toys, games consoles, designer items, and electrical goods, according to TSB.

Many cases originate on social media, it added.

However, mandatory reimbursement rules came into force in October, overseen by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR).

Under the new rules, banks must reimburse APP fraud victims, unless the customer has been grossly negligent.

The new protections apply when a transfer is made to and from a UK bank account. They cover transactions made from October 7 onwards and do not apply retrospectively.

Reimbursement is mandatory up to the value of £85,000.

But, banks can also apply a £100 excess per claim, which means customers requesting a mandatory reimbursement must pay £100 themselves.

Some account providers have pledged to waive the excess – and some may also choose to consider claims for more than £85,000.

TSB, which has been operating its own fraud refund guarantee since 2019, has pledged to waive the £100 excess.

However, it warned that not all banks will do this.

TSB has also said it will continue to review claims outside the scope of the rules on a case by case basis.

The bank said it has found that nearly half (48%) of purchase fraud cases are for £100 or less.

The cases it has dealt with include a male customer who paid £50 for a ticket to a concert that was happening that evening.

The seller sent him a screenshot with the ticket on as proof and, once payment was made, the customer was then blocked.

Nicola Bannister, director of customer support, TSB, said: “At this time of year, we’re all shopping online more than ever – but it’s important to be wary of scams on social media platforms, as crooks are listing items that simply don’t exist.

“We’d advise sticking to reputable websites and only buying an item you’ve found on a social media platform if you can view it in person first.”

Can I be reimbursed if I fall for a scam?

Banks must reimburse authorised push payment (APP) fraud victims unless the customer has been “grossly negligent”.

Customers were initially set to receive reimbursements of up to £415,000.

However, the new rules have now implemented a cap of £85,000.

Banks can exceed this limit and repay higher amounts if they choose.

But, they also have the power to impose a £100 excess fee when settling claims, a policy that five banks have now adopted.

So, if your claim is for a payment of £100 or less, trying to recover the money may not be of any benefit.

Only four firms have pledged not to apply this charge: Nationwide, Virgin Money, TSB, and AIB.

Five banks – HSBC, First Direct, Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland – have said they will not cover fraud claims below £100.

The rest say that they “may” cover them or will judge each claim on a case-by-case basis.

Starling Bank says it may apply an excess of £50 rather than £100.

The £100 excess cannot be applied to vulnerable consumers under the Payment Systems Regulator’s (PSR) rules.

SAVE a little more this month by making economies to your beauty regime.

You can still look fabulous by making the most of the products you already own.

POLISHED FINISH: Don’t toss that nail polish just because it’s thickening or looking claggy.

Just add a tiny drop of nail polish remover or polish thinner, give it a good shake, and it’ll be as smooth as new.

This trick should extend the life of your favourite colours, so you won’t need to replace them as often.

EASY SQUEEZY: Lotion, foundation and other tube products often hide extra product you can’t reach.

Use a clothes peg on the tube to squeeze every last bit to the top, getting your money’s worth with each use.

When you think it’s all used up, snip the end off to reveal the dregs ­— often enough for several more applications.

You’ll be surprised at how much is left.

KITCHEN RAID: If your pricey cleanser is running low, reach into your kitchen for a natural alternative — coconut oil.

Gentle on the skin and effective at removing make-up, coconut oil is a budget-friendly option that leaves skin feeling soft. Just a small amount goes a long way.

SHARING IS CARING: Cut back on both clutter and cost by opting for dual-use products you can share with your partner.

Cleansers, body washes and certain moisturisers — like classic Nivea — work well for both of you, giving you double the usage for a single price and reducing the need for separate products.

FILL IT UP: When it’s time to restock your essentials, consider refillable products.

Many brands now offer refills for popular items such as perfumes, cleansers, and creams, which are often larger and cheaper than what you get if you buy a new bottle.

Not only does this save money, it also cuts down on waste. For instance, a 500ml refill pack of Radox Mineral shower gel costs just £1.75 at Boots, while two new 225ml bottles would be £2.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

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Deal of the day

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GATHER the family to play The Chase at home with this board game – previously £22.99, now £12.99, at Home Bargains.

SAVE: £10

Cheap treat

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ADD colour to your patio with this pink plant pot – was £30, now £9, at Homebase.

SAVE: £21

What’s new?

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HEAD to Pizza Express for lunch to try the new festive menu – currently Pizza Express club members get 50 per cent off all pizzas when dining in.

Sign up to become a free member at pizzaexpress.com/club

Top swap

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BEGIN batch-cooking using a Le Creuset Signature cast-iron casserole pot, £239, from John Lewis or head to Robert Dyas for a similar pot, £23.99.

SAVE: £215.01

Shop & save

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GET rid of brassy tones with new Provoke Go Ashy shampoo, on sale at Superdrug. A bottle was £5.99, now £3.99.

Hot right now

TUCK in to a portion of Doritos Chilli Heatwave Chicken Fries, with six pieces available for only £3 at the moment.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

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JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!