Major high street chain with 451 stores to shut branch in UK town centre

Major high street chain with 451 stores to shut branch in UK town centreA major UK high street chain is shutting one of its 451 stores in a town centre after a branch rescue deal was struck just last year. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Ewan Gleadow 08:21, Sat, Jun 6, 2026 Updated: 08:33, Sat, Jun 6, 2026 A TG Jones will shutter its high street location today (file) (Image: Getty)A UK high street staple has shut one of its stores just a year on from a branch deal that saved its 451 stores. The closure comes as the company was "unable to agree on commercially viable terms” with the site’s landlord. It means the WH Smith, now TJ Jones, in Ipswich high street will close today (June 6). window.scriptsToLoad.push({url:'https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=118222&vp_content=plembed3a6btjknzwqh&cbuster=%%CACHEBUSTER%%&playerApiId=v118222',triggeredBy:'tcfLoaded',delay:1500,containerId:'ovp-primis',title:"Primis player",beforeLoad:()=>{window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v118222"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}})},}) This closure ends a decade-long chapter for the store at the town centre site. The stationary shop had been opened on the high street in the 1970s. WH Smith was purchased in a rescue deal by investment firm Modella Capital, with high street locations beginning to trade under the new name in 2025. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Get personal finance news, money saving tips and advice plus selcted offers and competitions Subscribe Invalid emailWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy State pensioners shopping at Iceland h...