Arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft has announced it will close at least nine stores across the UK by mid-July, in a restructuring move that could impact up to 126 jobs.

The closures come as part of a broader overhaul by Modella Capital, the private equity firm that acquired the chain in August 2024. In addition to the store closures, the company also revealed that job cuts are expected at its Bournemouth head office and its distribution centre in Burton-on-Trent, although exact figures have not been released.

Confirmed Store Closures:

• Bagshot, Surrey
• Basildon, Essex
• Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
• Imperial Retail Park, Bristol
• Canterbury, Kent
• Cirencester, Gloucestershire
• Dunstable, Bedfordshire
• Epping Forest, Essex
• Lakeside Shopping Centre, Essex

In a statement, Hobbycraft CEO Alex Wilson said:

“Very sadly, the strength of our offering has not made us immune from the challenges faced by the retail sector in recent years.

Closing stores is always a last resort and this has been an extremely difficult decision… Making these changes is a necessary action to enable us to keep our doors open to crafters across the country.

While nine stores are confirmed to shut, the future of several other locations remains under review, raising further uncertainty for both employees and customers.

High Street Pain Continues

The announcement adds to a grim picture for the UK high street, with over 13,000 stores closing in 2024, a 28% rise compared to the previous year. Analysts predict an even worse outlook for 2025, with projections indicating 17,350 more closures by year-end.

Other big-name retailers have also announced store shutdowns:

• Poundland is set to close three more locations in Liverpool, Kent and London.
• Morrisons recently shut over a dozen stores, citing rising national insurance and minimum wage costs.
• WHSmith, JD Sports, Sports Direct, and New Look have also confirmed branch closures this year.

Modella Capital, which also owns The Original Factory Shop and recently acquired WHSmith’s high street business, said the restructuring was aimed at safeguarding at least 99 stores and 1,800 jobs across the Hobbycraft brand.

What’s Next?

Affected staff are reportedly being offered support, and discussions are ongoing regarding possible redeployment or redundancy terms. The retailer said it will keep customers updated on any further closures or changes.

Customers and staff alike have expressed disappointment over the closures, particularly in communities where Hobbycraft stores have become creative hubs.

For now, Hobbycraft’s online services and remaining physical branches will continue to operate as normal.

Is your local store affected? Visit hobbycraft.co.uk/store-finder for the latest updates.