High street retail giant Gap to close all UK and Ireland stores - here's when

Another blow to the high street as Gap announces it will be shutting up brick-and-mortar shops as web sales continue to grow
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Gap, pictured in Oxford Street, London, has confirmed it is closing all its UK and Ireland stores (Sion Touhig/Getty Images)Gap, pictured in Oxford Street, London, has confirmed it is closing all its UK and Ireland stores (Sion Touhig/Getty Images)
Gap, pictured in Oxford Street, London, has confirmed it is closing all its UK and Ireland stores (Sion Touhig/Getty Images)

At a glance: 5 key points

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- Closures include the 19 stores that were already scheduled to close in July as their leases were expiring

- The company said it intends to take business online “in a phased manner” from the end of August through to the end of September this year

- It added it would provide “support and transition assistance” to colleagues following the closures, though did not specify how many employees had been affected

- The retailer has been active in the UK since 1987 and has had stores in the Republic of Ireland since 2006

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- The announcement comes following a strategic review aimed at “finding new, more cost-effective ways to maintain a presence and serve customers in Europe”

What’s been said

In a statement, Gap said: “In the United Kingdom and Europe, we are going to maintain our Gap online business.

“The e-commerce business continues to grow and we want to meet our customers where they are shopping.”

Background

A spokesperson for the firm said Gap is becoming a web-first business and it’s looking for a partner to help drive their online market.

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Bosses are now proposing to close all company-operated Gap Specialty and Gap Outlet stores in the United Kingdom and is moving through the consultation process with its European team.

Additional reporting by PA.

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