Woolworths was a staple of the British high street for generations as it was first founded in 1909. It sold many products including children’s clothing, sweets, and toys - and there were over 800 stores all across the UK. It fell in to difficulty in 2008 and then officially entered in to administration in early 2009. This is when all the stores were closed.placeholder image
Woolworths was a staple of the British high street for generations as it was first founded in 1909. It sold many products including children’s clothing, sweets, and toys - and there were over 800 stores all across the UK. It fell in to difficulty in 2008 and then officially entered in to administration in early 2009. This is when all the stores were closed. | newsfocus1 - stock.adobe.com

Closed UK shops that we miss: 39 retro retailers that we wish would make a return to the high street

Rochelle Barrand
By Rochelle Barrand

Fashion & Beauty Writer

5 minutes ago

These 39 UK stores have disappeared from our streets in the last few years - how many of them do you remember and would love to return to our high street?

Iconic electrical retailer Comet is back more than a decade after it closed its doors. That’s cause for celebration as it’s not often that lost names make a return.

The UK high street has changed a lot in recent years, particularly as many retailers shut up shop for good as they became casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sadly though, shops closing - and having economic and socio-cultural factors contribute to this - is nothing new. As our gallery below shows, there are many stores that have disappared from our high street in the last 20 years or so.

Some of these brand names have gone altogether, while others have re-branded or launched as online only companies. Take a look through our gallery and see which ones you remember.

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Old chocolate bars: 11 retro Cadbury chocolates discontinued in the UK - from the Aztec to the Spira and Fuse

Old soft drinks: 8 retro soda brands that have been discontinued in the UK - from Panda Pops to Turbo Tango

Viirgin Megastore was a retail chain that operated in the UK from 1971 to 2007. In 2007, the company was sold and rebranded as Zavvi - which then went on to also close. Back in it’s heyday, Virgin Megastore was the go to place for all the latest music and DVDs, and they always had some great offers to tempt shoppers like 5 for £30.

5. Virgin Megastore

Viirgin Megastore was a retail chain that operated in the UK from 1971 to 2007. In 2007, the company was sold and rebranded as Zavvi - which then went on to also close. Back in it’s heyday, Virgin Megastore was the go to place for all the latest music and DVDs, and they always had some great offers to tempt shoppers like 5 for £30. | AFP via Getty Images

Women’s fashion store MK One began life in the 1980s as Mark One, but rebranded as MK One in the 1990s. The store was sold a few times in the early noughties before finally entering administration in 2008. By May 2009, all MK One stores that were had been bought by Internacionale had been rebranded under that firm’s name, and that also went on to close.

6. MK One

Women’s fashion store MK One began life in the 1980s as Mark One, but rebranded as MK One in the 1990s. The store was sold a few times in the early noughties before finally entering administration in 2008. By May 2009, all MK One stores that were had been bought by Internacionale had been rebranded under that firm’s name, and that also went on to close. | MK One

If you wanted a new pair of shoes, Dolcis was the place to go. The store was actually founded as far back as 1863. By the 1920s, there were stores across the UK and it was loved by generations. That was up until 2008 when the retailer became insolvent. The brand is still available to buy online, however, and the shops were then rebranded as Barratts Shoes - which then also faced problems.

7. Dolcis Shoes

If you wanted a new pair of shoes, Dolcis was the place to go. The store was actually founded as far back as 1863. By the 1920s, there were stores across the UK and it was loved by generations. That was up until 2008 when the retailer became insolvent. The brand is still available to buy online, however, and the shops were then rebranded as Barratts Shoes - which then also faced problems. | Getty Images

Jane Norman was a UK women’s clothing retailer, owned by Edinburgh Woollen Mill, and was also the sister company of fashion chain Peacocks. It was founded in 1952 and was a popular name on high streets and shopping centres for years. The shopping bags were a must for girls’ PE bags in the 1990s and noughties. The brand went into administration in 2011, and again in 2014. It was then purchased out of administration by Edinburgh Woollen Mill, which operated the brand as an in store concession and online retailer. The brand was closed for good in 2018.

8. Jane Norman

Jane Norman was a UK women’s clothing retailer, owned by Edinburgh Woollen Mill, and was also the sister company of fashion chain Peacocks. It was founded in 1952 and was a popular name on high streets and shopping centres for years. The shopping bags were a must for girls’ PE bags in the 1990s and noughties. The brand went into administration in 2011, and again in 2014. It was then purchased out of administration by Edinburgh Woollen Mill, which operated the brand as an in store concession and online retailer. The brand was closed for good in 2018. | Jane Norman

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