The closure of WH Smith’s Bournemouth stores marks the end of an era for the local community and the UK’s high street. After more than two centuries of serving British shoppers, the iconic brand has begun winding down several locations, with the closure of the Bournemouth Old Christchurch Road branch and its neighbouring outlets drawing particular attention from residents and retail analysts.
End of a Staple: The Bournemouth Story
On 18 January 2025, WH Smith closed the doors of its Bournemouth town centre shop for the final time. This closure was quickly followed by the shutdown of two other Bournemouth branches, including the Wimborne Road store, which hosted a significant 50 percent clearance sale ahead of its February 1 closure. These events have left many locals reflecting on WH Smith’s longstanding place in their childhoods and daily routines. The Boscombe branch had also shut down several months earlier, culminating in the loss of three Bournemouth stores within a year.
For many, the phrase “everything must go” was not merely a marketing slogan but a moment of nostalgia, prompting shoppers to return one last time in search of bargains and mementos connected to a familiar part of their high street. Generations of Bournemouth residents recall back-to-school stationery shopping, picking up newspapers, and browsing for gifts at WH Smith—a ritual now suddenly lost to time.
National Context: A Major High Street Shift
WH Smith’s Bournemouth closures come amid a wave of high street change and store closures across the United Kingdom. The company announced plans to close at least 17 stores in 2025, with Bournemouth among the first to cease trading. Economic headwinds, including rising national insurance and increased minimum wage costs, presented direct challenges. WH Smith’s CEO Carl Cowling explained that the new government budget measures would add millions to the company’s payroll expenses, contributing to difficult closure decisions.
Store closures have become a familiar sight throughout British towns, but WH Smith’s decline hits harder due to its deep roots. Founded in 1792, the retailer once boasted a presence on nearly every major high street in the country. A 2024 report by BBC News also noted that revenue from high street operations dropped by £17 million year-on-year, while travel segment sales—at airports, train stations, and hospitals continued to grow.
Changing Consumer Habits and Retail Strategy
Consumer behaviour has shifted rapidly over the last decade. Shoppers have grown accustomed to buying stationery, books, and greeting cards online or at supermarkets, undermining the need for traditional high street specialist stores. Analyst Catherine Shuttleworth explained to the BBC that for most Britons, reading news, sending birthday cards, and even buying books had migrated to digital platforms or more convenient store formats.
In response, WH Smith has focused investment on its travel retail division. While nearly 500 high street branches are earmarked for sale or closure, plans call for over 110 new WH Smith outlets to open in airports, railway stations, and hospitals sites that deliver higher profits due to increased footfall and demand for last-minute purchases.
The Bournemouth closure sale was a last hurrah for a sector in retreat. With deep discounts and clearance racks, shoppers visited for both deals and nostalgia. The event offered reminders of WH Smith’s adaptability—having survived wars, economic crises, and retail trends before, but also served as a poignant signal that not all beloved institutions can weather modern marketplace changes.
What Comes Next for High Streets?
The fate of the now-empty Bournemouth shop reflects broader uncertainty for the British high street. The building itself is set for a new lease of life, with reports indicating it will soon house an independent sports retailer, continuing a tradition of transformation and renewal on Old Christchurch Road. Still, the shift has caused disappointment and even worry for some who fear that town centres are losing their character and diversity.
WH Smith has pledged to preserve its travel-based stores and maintain an online presence, including its Funky Pigeon and Cult Pens sister brands. Many local post offices that operate out of WH Smith branches will remain open, cushioning the impact on residents who rely on those essential services.
A New Retail Era Dawns
As Bournemouth bids farewell to its longstanding WH Smith stores, locals and visitors alike are left with memories of generations spent browsing its aisles. The closure sale may have offered bargains, but it also marked a significant turning point for the UK’s retail landscape, a reminder that adaptation is key, and no brand, however iconic, is immune to change.
