The British high street faces another blow as fashion chain New Look shuts its doors in Lewes, Sussex today. This marks the tenth store closure for the retailer since the beginning of 2025, signalling a significant shift in its physical retail strategy.
Wave of Closures Continues
Today's shutdown in Lewes comes less than a month after New Look closed its Stoke-on-Trent location on October 14. According to recent reports, the company plans to close eleven additional stores before the end of the year, bringing the total number of closures to 41 since this restructuring phase began.
A spokesperson for New Look expressed gratitude to staff and local communities, stating: "We would like to thank all of our colleagues and the local community for their support over the years. We hope customers continue to shop with us online, where our full product ranges can be found."
Shoppers React to Changing High Street
Customer reactions from recently closed locations paint a picture of declining footfall. One shopper at the Stoke-on-Trent store commented: "Not a surprise at all, the shop has been half empty with a large clearance area for a while."
Another customer added: "I went into New Look a couple of weeks ago, the only people in there were the staff and me – same for all the shops in shopping centre. I used to love going in there on a Saturday, it was packed years ago."
Complete List of New Look Closures
Recent and upcoming closures include:
- New Look, Lewes, Sussex – closed November 8
- New Look, Stoke-on-Trent – closed October 14
- New Look, Stockwell Head – closing December 9
- New Look, Scarborough – closed September 17
- New Look, Neath, Wales – closed August 6
- New Look, Hamilton, Scotland – closed July 1
- New Look, Birmingham, Northfield shopping centre – closed June 8
- New Look, Willow Place, Corby – closed June 1
- New Look Bexleyheath, London – closed April 19
- New Look, Preston – closed March 20
- New Look, Valley Retail World in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear – closed March 9
- New Look, St Austell in Cornwall – closed March 4
- New Look, Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales – closed February 22
- New Look, Wickford, Essex – closed January 24
- New Look, Carillon Court Shopping Centre Loughborough – closed January 21
- New Look, Devizes, Wiltshire – closed
The pattern of closures reflects broader challenges facing traditional retail as consumers increasingly shift to online shopping, forcing established brands to reconsider their physical store portfolios.
