Claire’s Shuts All 154 UK And Ireland Stores, Leaving 1,300 Employees Redundant

Claire’s has shut all 154 of its standalone stores across the UK and Ireland, ending the accessories chain’s presence on British high streets and leaving more than 1,300 employees without jobs.

“All Claire's standalone stores in the UK and Ireland have stopped trading after the accessories chain's financial woes saw it fall into administration twice in a year”

BBC

BBC reported that administrators Kroll said 154 stores have shut and more than 1,300 staff have been “notified of redundancy,” while its 350 concessions will remain open.

BBC

The BBC also quoted Kroll saying: “As of 27 April, all Claire's standalone stores in UK and Ireland have ceased trading. All store employees have been advised of redundancy.”

The Guardian described the closures as ending “three decades on British high streets,” and said administrators at Kroll confirmed that “all store employees have been advised of redundancy.”

GB News similarly said all standalone Claire’s stores across the United Kingdom and Ireland closed on Monday, leaving “more than 1,000 people out of work,” and that staff at every store have been told they are being made redundant.

The Independent likewise said the chain shut down all 154 of its high street outlets across the UK and Ireland, resulting in the redundancy of around 1,300 employees, while not affecting the retailer’s 356 concessions or its head office operations.

The closures followed Claire’s entry into administration earlier in the year, with the process overseen by Kroll after private equity owner Modella Capital hired the firm.

BBC said the chain’s financial woes saw it fall into administration twice in a year, and it reported that Kroll said 154 stores have shut and more than 1,300 staff have been “notified of redundancy,” while its concessions will remain open.

Daily Star

The Guardian added that Claire’s collapsed into administration in January, “just a few months after about half the chain – 154 stores – had been rescued by Modella Capital in August,” and it said the 145 branches not bought by Modella were closed by administrators in late November.

The Guardian also reported that in March, Kroll said 15 of the remaining 154 stores had closed, cutting more than 100 jobs, including at its head office.

The Mirror and Daily Star both echoed Kroll’s statement that “All store employees have been advised of redundancy,” and the Mirror said the move does not affect the retailer’s 356 concessions, including many in Asda stores, and its head office.

Meanwhile, the BBC and other outlets differed on the number of concessions that would remain open, with BBC saying 350 concessions will remain open and other reports citing 356 concessions.

Multiple reports tied Claire’s collapse to weak trading around Christmas, rising costs, and competition from online and low-cost rivals.

“La cadena de accesorios Claire’s, símbolo en centros comerciales y referente para adolescentes durante décadas, atraviesa en 2025 su momento más crítico”

Economía Digital

BBC said Modella Capital blamed “alarming” low Christmas trading that left it in a “vulnerable” position, and it also said the climate on the High Street “remains extremely challenging,” adding that government policy had caused a tough trading environment by raising staffing costs such as National Insurance Contributions.

The Independent quoted Modella’s view that tough retail conditions, including those from government policies, were causing British businesses to “suffer,” and it cited Modella’s statement that “The climate on the high street remains extremely challenging, and TOFS and Claire’s are not alone in experiencing difficulties.”

The Independent also quoted Nicholas Found of Retail Economics saying Claire’s could not “evolve fast enough” to compete with “nimble online platforms” such as Temu and TikTok Shop, and it quoted him that Temu’s ultra-low pricing and TikTok Shop’s social-media-driven sales diminished the relevance of traditional high street players.

The Independent further quoted Sean Moran, a restructuring and insolvency partner at Shakespeare Martineau, saying the industry had been overwhelmed by new competition from online retailers in recent years.

In addition, Economía Digital provided a more detailed financial framing for the UK unit, saying the UK subsidiary had “pérdidas de 4 millones de libras sobre ventas de 137 millones en 2023-24” and referenced a loan “de alrededor de 500 millones de dólares” nearing maturity.

Even as standalone stores shut, administrators and other figures described ongoing efforts to keep some sites operating through new leases or a brand rescue.

Kroll’s spokesman, as quoted by the Daily Star, said: “We understand an interested party is in discussion with a number of landlords with a view to taking new leases for some of the sites.”

GB News

GB News reported that Julien Jarjoura, a French businessman who runs Claire’s operations in several European countries, is working to save around 50 British stores, and it said he is negotiating with landlords to take on new leases for these locations.

The Guardian said talks were thought to be continuing to find a new owner for the Claire’s brand in the UK with French entrepreneur Julien Jarjoura, who controls the brand in several mainland European countries.

The Sun similarly said there is “a glimmer of hope for a small number of sites” as a mystery buyer circles the wreckage, and it quoted administrators saying “We understand an interested party is in discussion with a number of landlords with a view to taking new leases for some of the sites.”

The Guardian also reported that Claire’s UK website has already been “paused” with customers unable to buy products through it, underscoring that any rescue would have to occur without normal online sales.

The Claire’s shutdown was framed by outlets as part of a wider pattern of distress in British retail and insolvencies affecting other chains.

“The closure of Claire's standalone stores in the UK and Ireland marks a significant decline for a brand that was once a staple on the high street”

RTTNews

BBC said Claire’s has struggled like many High Street firms and described competition from cheaper, online brands such as Shein and Temu, while also naming Primark and Superdrug as bricks-and-mortar competitors.

RTTNews

GB News connected the closures to “mounting pressures facing British retail shops,” citing Poundland shutting numerous outlets and Poundstretcher announcing restructuring plans involving “significant rent reductions.”

The Independent placed Claire’s in the context of other businesses, noting that Modella also initiated insolvency proceedings for The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) and quoting Modella’s statement that “TOFS and Claire’s are not alone in experiencing difficulties.”

The Guardian broadened the picture further by linking Claire’s collapse to other Modella-owned failures, saying its Hobbycraft chain also closed numerous stores under a restructure last year and that The Original Factory Shop chain went into administration led by Interpath in January and closed all remaining stores on 4 April.

In the Guardian’s reporting, Kroll said in a March report it did not expect to pay out to unsecured creditors, including suppliers, landlords and staff, who are collectively owed £10.6m, and it added that Modella, which has secured debts of £5.5m, would receive at least some cash.