Poundland announces major change for all shoppers next week as more stores to close

Poundland is set to close 16 more shops in the coming weeks, just weeks after it closed 11 stores on August 31. The discount chain is accelerating a sweeping refocus of its estate alongside a major digital change: from September 16, 2025, Poundland will stop online sales and turn Poundland.co.uk into a browseonly site while it concentrates investment in stores.

The retrenchment is happening during a difficult period for the retail industry. According to the Centre for Retail Research, UK retail failures in 2025 (to April) had already affected 283 stores and 3,026 employees across nine collapsed businesses, following a torrid 2024 that hit 7,537 stores and 55,914 jobs. The company has also confirmed a major digital change from next week that will impact all shoppers.

A statement on the retailer's website read: "Poundland.co.uk is changing, and Poundland Perks is closing."

On September 16, 2025, its website will become "for browsing only," and it will "no longer be providing an online delivery service."

Explaining the shift, Poundland says it is "working very hard behind the scenes to simplify and refocus our stores," promising "even more ranges at £1 and new items to choose from each week."

While the retailer acknowledges the disappointment for online customers - "we know this will be disappointing to all who've been using our online ordering service" - it stresses the site will still help shoppers discover ranges, store locations and opening times.

The retailer said: "We'll miss you shopping on our website, but it will still be here for you."

Poundland Perks, the loyalty scheme, will close on the same date.

The chain says, "you'll still be able to use your vouchers," with any earned reward vouchers redeemable in-store until January 15, 2026.

Long term, Poundland is moving to everyday low pricing without membership frills: "This means that we'll focus on having the best prices, for everyone, in all of our stores - no need for an account, data, membership or vouchers."

So far this year a total of 51 Poundland stores have closed, with another confirmed for next week.

On September 14, Poundland will shut the doors of its Irvine, Scotland, location, bringing the total closures in 2025 to 52.

Poundland announced it will close a further 16 stores, though their locations have not yet been revealed.

Additionally, Poundland is expected to shut its distribution centre at Darton, South Yorkshire, and its national distribution centre at Bilston in the West Midlands in early 2026.

Its first store opened in Burton Upon Trent in 1990. All products were sold for £1, and on its first day, it turned over £13,000.

In the following years, the nation faced a recession and a cost-of-living crisis, making budget shopping necessary for many.

While high-end retailers struggled, the Pound Shop thrived. The Guardian reported that pound shops on UK high streets doubled from 2010 to 2016, reaching 1,000 stores between Poundland and Poundworld.

In June, Poundland announced a restructuring plan after being acquired by Gordon Brothers, including closing 68 stores and reducing rent at others, aiming for a network of about 650-700 stores.