New Look closing two more stores starting next week in major blow for shoppers

New Look is closing another two high street stores month in a major blow to shoppers.

The high street fashion retailer will pull down the shutters on its St Austell branch in Cornwall on March 4, with signs in store reading: "It's time to say goodbye." This closure will be followed by the New Look store in Team Valley Retail World branch in Gateshead being shut for good on March 9.

New Look confirmed the closure date in a post on Facebook, which read: "CLOSING DOWN SALE ALERT! It's time for BIG savings at New Look Team Valley! We're saying goodbye on March 9th, and everything must go! Tops for just £3! Dresses for only £5! Bottoms for £7! And SO MUCH MORE! Hurry in before it's all gone! Don’t miss out on the biggest bargains of the year! Sale ends March 9th! See you there!"

It comes after New Look closed its Porth branch in Rhondda Cynon Taf on February 22. In the statement on this particular store closure, New Look said: "We would like to thank all of our colleagues and the local community for their support over the years."

New Look has been quietly closing stores over the last few months. Its store in Carillon Court Shopping Centre in Loughborough shut on January 21, while its Wickford, Essex, store closed a few days later, on January 24. The third closure saw its Bracknell store at Bracknell Peel Centre pull down the shutters on January 30.

Earlier this year, the Times reported that the chain was looking to "accelerate future store closures" when leases expire. The newspaper said this was due to the tax increases revealed in October’s budget. According to the report, around a quarter of its 364 UK stores - around 91 sites - could be at risk of closure. New Look did not confirm this report at the time.

The rate of National Insurance paid by firms will rise from 13.8% to 15% from April 2025. The earnings threshold for when employers start paying National Insurance will also be lowered from £9,100 per year to £5,000. This comes on top of growing use of online shopping, stretched finances following the cost of living crisis, meaning people have less money to spend, and more employees working from home, which means less footfall in high streets.

At the same time, minimum wage will rise by 6.7%. For someone aged 21 and over, minimum wage will rise from £11.44 an hour to £12.21 an hour, while those aged 18 to 20 will see their rate rise from £8.60 an hour to £10 an hour. If you're under 18 or you're an apprentice, minimum wage is rising from £6.40 an hour to £7.55 an hour.