Shoppers across the United Kingdom are facing a wave of high street closures as several beloved retail and food chains announce the shuttering of dozens of stores, leaving communities grappling with the loss of familiar favorites and employees facing uncertain futures. The latest casualties in this retail upheaval include the American bakery chain Cinnabon, high street fashion stalwart River Island, and health and beauty retailer Bodycare. Each closure tells its own story of financial strain, shifting consumer habits, and the relentless pressures facing British high streets in 2025.
For fans of the sweet, gooey cinnamon bun, the news that Cinnabon was closing all its UK locations came as a gut punch. As reported on September 15, 2025, Cinnabon abruptly ceased trading at all its British stores, including the Bristol Bedminster branch, just five years after its much-anticipated arrival in December 2020. The chain had quickly carved out a presence in cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Edinburgh, and more. Yet, in a decision that stunned customers, EG On the Move—the company responsible for bringing Cinnabon to the UK—announced it would shut every location to focus on its core convenience retail business.
"EG On the Move has made the strategic decision to close all Cinnabon locations operated in the UK. This was not a decision taken lightly, but it reflects the strategic shift to focus on our core convenience retail business. This decision aligns with our wider business strategy to focus on areas where we can deliver the greatest value to our customers," the company stated, as cited by multiple outlets.
Reaction was swift and emotional. London-based food vlogger Angelina Perello-Javar captured the mood in a viral TikTok video, saying, "When I tell you Cinnabon... they do the best buns in the entire world and I've tried a lot of buns in my life." Her video, which amassed over 570,000 views, documented her disbelief as she found the Westfield London Cinnabon kiosk empty and shuttered. "It's empty. Can we please just get a moment of silence please for Cinnabon right now because I am actually grieving?" she lamented. The comments section was flooded with similar sentiments: "This is worse than heartbreak," wrote one user, while another confessed, "I went to Bullring [in Birmingham] yesterday just for Cinnabon and it's empty."
The closures are part of a broader trend. Cinnabon is only the latest in a string of high street brands to vanish or downsize, joining the likes of Poundland, River Island, and New Look. On September 25, 2025, Game will close its only Bristol store, underscoring the widespread turbulence on British high streets.
Meanwhile, River Island—a fixture of UK fashion for decades—is embarking on a dramatic restructuring. As reported on September 16, 2025, the retailer will close 35 stores in the coming months, including a branch in Omagh, Northern Ireland, which will shut its doors on September 22 after an "everything must go" sale. The closures follow a £33.2 million full-year loss and a 19% drop in sales, as detailed by BBC News, with the company also negotiating rent reductions at 71 branches to help weather the storm.
River Island's CEO Ben Lewis addressed the changes candidly: "River Island is a much-loved retailer, with a decades-long history on the British high street. However, the well-documented migration of shoppers from the high street to online has left the business with a large portfolio of stores that is no longer aligned to our customers’ needs. The sharp rise in the cost of doing business over the last few years has only added to the financial burden." He emphasized that a restructuring plan, approved by the High Court, would help secure the chain’s long-term viability: "Recent improvements in our fashion offer and in-store shopping experience are already showing very positive results, but it is only with a restructuring plan that we will be able to see this strategy through and secure River Island’s future as a profitable retail business. We regret any job losses as a result of store closures, and we will try to keep these to a minimum."
The impact of these closures is being felt on the ground. Staff at the Omagh branch posted a heartfelt message to locals: "Our landlord and River Island unfortunately couldn’t agree on the terms of a new lease, so unfortunately the landlord has asked River Island to vacate the building. As you can imagine the team are totally gutted especially at such a short turnaround. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our wonderful customers who have shopped with us for years! We know you will be sad to see us leave as well."
Bodycare, another high street staple, is also facing a painful contraction. After collapsing into administration earlier in September 2025, Bodycare began closing stores at a rapid pace. On September 16, it was reported that 14 stores would shut that day, with another 16 to follow on September 18. This comes after 32 immediate closures upon entering administration, resulting in around 450 job losses. The retailer, which was founded in 1970 on a Lancashire market stall and sells brands like L'Oreal, Nivea, and Elizabeth Arden, will have about 85 stores left after the latest round of closures. The business has been owned by Baaj Capital since 2021.
Nick Holloway, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, expressed gratitude for the staff’s dedication: "We’d like to express our sincere thanks to the hundreds of dedicated Bodycare staff who have shown such professionalism since our appointment. We will continue to trade the remaining 85 stores while we remain in discussions with interested parties with the aim of preserving as much of the business as possible." According to BBC, the company is up for sale, with interest from several parties, offering a glimmer of hope for the remaining stores and their employees.
Bodycare’s woes are not unique. The company suffered significant losses after the Covid-19 pandemic, despite receiving a multimillion-pound government loan to help stay afloat. This story echoes the struggles of other retailers. Poundland, for instance, narrowly avoided collapse in August 2025 thanks to a High Court-approved restructuring plan and £60 million in new funding, but it will still close 68 stores, affecting around 1,000 workers. These closures, like those at River Island, are part of attempts to cut costs, reduce rents, and adapt to a retail landscape where online shopping and rising expenses have upended traditional business models.
Even as these closures spark grief and nostalgia among loyal customers, some are looking for silver linings. On social media, fans of Cinnabon have begun swapping tips for the best cinnamon buns in the UK, with recommendations for independent bakeries in Leeds and Manchester, and even supermarket alternatives. But for many, the loss of these brands is more than just about shopping or sweet treats—it’s about the fading of local landmarks and the changing face of Britain’s high streets.
As the dust settles from this wave of closures, communities, employees, and business leaders alike are left to reckon with what comes next. The hope is that new ventures, creative adaptations, and continued support for local businesses will help fill the void, but for now, the sense of loss is palpable on high streets up and down the country.
