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THEIR mid-90s feud dominated the British music scene and is still talked about 30 years on.
But Blur bassist Alex James, 56, is thrilled that his group’s former foes, Liam and Noel Gallagher, are reuniting Oasis this summer for a huge stadium tour.
He knows all too well how painful band infighting can be after Blur’s guitarist Graham Coxon temporarily quit the band in the early noughties due to personal differences.
Reconciliation came in 2008 when Coxon made amends with frontman Damon Albarn ahead of the band’s triumphant Hyde Park reunion gig the following year and a Glastonbury headline show.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Alex said of the Gallaghers’ first shows together in 16 years: “It’s wonderful. It’s awful that most bands end up hating each other.
“From Blur’s point of view, huge parts of how I feel every day… the fact there was a reconciliation and we’re all on good terms again… because when something is such a big defining part of your life you don’t want to be exiled from it. It was great for Blur and I’m delighted for the Gallaghers.”
Blur’s latest records, The Magic Whip and The Ballad of Darren, feature the full original lineup and were critical and commercial hits.
Those albums, and the ones that preceded it in the early 2000s and late 90s – like Think Tank and 13 – couldn’t be more different than Oasis’ LPs.
Blur turned to more experimental sounds more akin to Radiohead after the straightforward indie rock they put out on their trio of classic Britpop albums – Modern Life is Rubbish, Park Life and The Great Escape.
While Oasis remained true to their soaring Beatlesesque singalong anthems throughout their active years.
It’s testament to the quality of both bands’ back catalogues that three decades on that the songs are just as relevant and will be blaring out around the country this summer.
Alex says: “It’s a generation ago. The songs that kind of still live and breathe from those days, maybe they’ve kind of achieved classic status.”
He’ll be dipping into his own musical past as well as those of his peers at his Big Feastival festival on his Cotswold Farm this August.
The musician is launching Britpop Classical, a collaboration with the London Concert Orchestra and a number of famous faces on vocals that reimagine classic tracks of the era.
Explaining what fans can expect, Alex says: “So there’s a kind of legacy section, showing where all the influences that inspired these bands came from.
“We’ll probably have a bit of Beatles and Stones and there’s so many great bands from Manchester in the early 90s. So there’s probably going to be a Northern Quarter section.
“And then you will move into a kind of upbeat sing-along section. I mean a lot of those tunes had big fat brass sections and string sections.
“If you’re doing this in a headline slot, you can really bring a whole production to bear. We’re sort of knee deep in arrangements and orchestration. It’s really, really exciting.
“I think it’s going to deliver something totally f**king unique. And hopefully everybody will be heads back, crying their eyes out, singing every word.”
There’ll be a few surprises along the way with The Prodigy tracks set to be included in the set. Alex singled them out as the best live act he’s seen in recent years and doesn’t underestimate the impact the pioneering hybrid act had on the British music scene in the 90s.
He wants to straddle the line between nostalgia for the people who lived it first time round as well as breathing new life into the music for a generation of music fans who discovered them through their parents’ record collections.
“I really cannot think of a better way of bringing Feastival to an almighty climax this year,” he said. “You know, having Oasis play, it wouldn’t work. Their people aren’t a foodie crowd. And having Blur here, that would be like Damon having Blur playing on a Gorillaz record. You know, that wasn’t why he started it. You know what I mean?
“But this way, Feastival’s at my gaff, it’s my crowd. They’re probably into similar things to me.”
The family friendly event certainly caters for everyone with demonstrations from Michelin star chefs, gorgeous street food, performances from the likes of Nelly Furtado and Travis and kid-friendly entertainment.
Ahead of his home event, Alex will play a DJ set at Glastonbury, a festival he’s headlined twice with Blur in 1998 and 2009.
Though there are plenty of years ahead for a potential third outing, for now, Blur fans at Worthy Farm will need to make do with their music in a different form.
“I never thought we’d top 2009 Blur at Glastonbury,” admits Alex. “But actually, I think we probably did at Wembley 2023, to all our surprise.
“I mean the trouble is with going back is, how do you do it better? We do it different. I’ll go back and do a DJ set this summer. I think that’s the answer.”
Alex’s life is now vastly different from his wild-partying playboy days of the 90s.
He is married with five children – between 14 and 20 – and gets as much joy producing cheese on his farm as he does from rocking out on stage.
His work with Blur has sporadic over the last couple of decades but he’s kept the music flowing by working with other established acts in his home studio.
“I didn’t really want to start another band,” he says. “I’ve got a little studio here and have done various sessions over the years, singers and songwriters, you know, like Florence and Machine, KT Tunstall, New Order, working as a writer and producer but not really doing anything live.”
But when the Blur bat signal shines, he’s always answered the call. He pushed himself to get stage fit in 2023 for two huge Wembley gigs after putting on weight during the coronavirus pandemic.
The emotional career-spanning sets were a resounding success and proved beyond all doubt the old magic is still there.
He says: “Rock ‘n’ roll bands are supposed to be what sends you into Fat Elvis. It was a kind of rehab for me. I put a lot of weight on like a lot of people during lockdown and I needed some impetus to shake it all off and get back in shape.
“You can’t point Super Trouper at a lard ass, it doesn’t work. Rock ‘n’ roll was rehab, it shouldn’t have worked but it did. In so many ways it was wonderful, the Blur reunion. It kind of gave me a taste for playing live again.”
CORRIE star Jack P. Shepherd said he’s terrified he’ll be ‘cancelled’ on Celebrity Big Brother – while sharing why he agreed to do reality TV.
Jack, 37, has played David Platt on the ITV soap for 25 years and now ventured into new territory in the Big Brother house.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun’s TV Mag, the star admitted fears of being “cancelled” and shared why he agreed to sign up.
It follows co-star and podcast co-host Colson Smith (aka Craig Tinker) placing third in last year’s series.
Jack said: “It just seems to be an experience and there’s not many people who have done it.
“I think there’s only been about 500 people to have been on it, so if you can say you’re one of them… I was heavily influenced by Cols.
“I have to know someone on the inside to make sure I’m not going to get cancelled.
“That’s everyone’s fundamental concern, isn’t it? That’s the biggest one.
‘”What happens if I go in there and I’ve no career [after] or people hate me?'”
He added: “Or I get booed and heckled. Having Cols on the inside and telling me what it’s all about, I think it’ll be fine.
“I think I’m just in there to make people laugh.”
Elsewhere, Celebrity Big Brother host Will Best took a savage swipe at Jack’s Corrie pal Colson Smith during the live launch show.
Just before entering the house, Jack told Will and fellow host AJ Odudu how he’d been getting advice from his co-star.
But Will’s gag at the Craig Tinker actor‘s expense didn’t hit the mark with Jack or the audience.
He brutally told Jack to disregard his tips as he “only finished third”.
The crowd quietened at that same moment and Jack shot back: “That’s really good”.
Meanwhile, the actor also sparked a mystery after failing to mention his fiancee during the launch show.
While many contestants had their family and friends in attendance to offer support, Jack appeared solo, with no sign of fashion influencer Hanni Treweek, 35.
A source shared their surprise, telling The Sun, “It’s really odd that Hanni wasn’t there, especially when you consider how public they’ve been about their relationship.
Celebrity Big Brother is back for a brand new series, with a whole host of stars set to live it up in the famous compound.
Here’s the FULL line-up of star housemates:
Trisha Goddard – Talk show host
Mickey Rourke – Hollywood actor
Donna Preston – comedian and TV star
JoJo Siwa – influencer and singer
Chris Hughes – Love Island hunk
Jack P. Shepherd – Coronation Street star
Patsy Palmer – EastEnders legend
Daley Thompson – Olympic athlete
Chesney Hawkes – 90s singer
Ella Rae Wise – Towie star
Michael Fabricant – former Tory politician
Angellica Bell – former CBBC presenter
Danny Beard – Drag queen and Britain’s Got Talent
“He didn’t even mention her either, which raised some questions.
“Fans were definitely expecting to see her there.”
TV Mag is available for free every Saturday, only in The Sun.
Celebrity Big Brother airs on ITV1 and ITVX.
WITH the weekend finally here and the weather heating up, if you want to ensure your garden is guest-ready, you’ve come to the right place.
There’s nothing more irritating than spending days looking after your garden, in particular your plants, only to find pesky slugs crawling all over them.
And if your plants have been chewed by the slimy creatures, don’t worry, we’ve got just the thing.
These soft-bodied molluscs can quickly become a gardener’s nightmare, leaving ragged holes in leaves and causing significant damage to plants.
But luckily for you, there’s a really simple Victorian-era trick that will work a treat.
Not only is it quick and easy, but you may already have the secret in your recycling bin, making this hack perfect for those on a budget.
This handy gardening hack has been used since the 1800s and according to experts, it works to keep slugs out of your garden.
Lena Wren teamed up with Heat Pump Covers to share the clever hack and recommended that homeowners bury open top glass bottles in their gardens – yes, you heard that correctly.
While it might seem rather random to some, this is a trick that has been proven to be effective for generations of gardeners.
Lena explained that doing so produces a humming sound that turns the slugs away.
And fear not, while us humans would barely notice it, creatures under the ground certainly will.
Lena shared: “It creates a subtle vibration through the soil. Moles and even slugs pick up on it and move away.
“It unsettles them without doing any harm.”
Lena advised that gardeners can use any kind of glass bottle that has a narrow neck, such as a lemonade bottle or a wine bottle.
ARE you at war with slugs? Are you crying out for help to get rid of them?
Fabulous’ Associate Editor and gardening enthusiast, Rebecca Miller, explores why gardens are overrun with slugs this summer.
“Not only has the lack of sunshine ruined plants, flowers and crops reaching their potential this summer, but the slug invasion is also ruining any chance of success.
“Up and down the country, gardeners are going to war over the army of slugs appearing in their back gardens.
“So why do we have so many slugs this summer? Well, because of the weather – we had a damp spring and arguably the wettest summer on record, which has created a perfect breeding ground for slugs.
“They became ‘active’ earlier in the year, which is why there are so many of them around now.
“As for whether they’re sticking around…that all depends on, yes, you guessed it, the weather!
“We need more sunshine to dry out the ground and soil, and then gardeners need to alter their watering schedules – avoid watering plants at night because the moisture encourages the slimy critters, instead water late in the afternoon, the last few hours of sun sun can dry the top layer of soil.”
She advised people to bury bottles halfway into the ground, ideally near areas under threat from these pests.
But that’s not all, along with this hack, Lena shared a few more suggestions for gardeners when it comes to keeping pests away from their plants.
It’s about creating an environment that tells pests: you’re not welcome here
Lena Wren
Another one of her top tips is to use onion peels or coffee grounds to throw off pests’ sense of smell, which attracts them to your garden plants.
Not only this, but she also suggested planting crown imperial flowers, which are known for their strong scent.
Lauren acknowledged: “It’s about creating an environment that tells pests: you’re not welcome here.”
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club
Yes, they chomp your precious plants, but having slugs in your garden should be celebrated.
Rebecca Miller, Associate Editor for Fabulous, and novice gardener, believes we should work in harmony with slugs and not try to get rid of them altogether.
“We’ve been conditioned as a society to believe we must have gardens with straight edges, short lawns with pretty stripes and perfect borders with flowers constantly blooming.
But unruly hedgerows, abundance of tall wildflowers buzzing with insects, and bugs and slugs galore in flowerbeds is totally natural – and necessary.
I understand that your plants might be very precious to you, but we need slugs and snails. They provide food for all sorts of mammals, birds, slow worms, earthworms, insects – and they are part of the natural balance.
By removing them, we upset the ecosystem and can do a lot of harm – thrushes in particular thrive on them!
It is said British Gardeners use some 650 billion slug pellets per year! Please find a natural alternative – the poison from slug pellets enters the food chain and can kill hedgehogs, who consider slugs and snails as a tasty treat.
If you’re truly desperate, consider using Diatomaceous Earth – it is a naturally occurring compound approved for organic use, that can be used for pest control.
And while you’re at it, challenge yourself to grow “sacrificial plants”.
Sacrificial planting, commonly known as trap cropping, is the deliberate act of growing plants to attract pests. Pick a slugs favourite vegetable or ornamental plant for them to nibble on, and they will leave your more precious plants alone.”
MANCHESTER UNITED are keen on signing Matheus Cunha, it’s been claimed.
But the Red Devils will reportedly have to raise funds for the Wolves ace by SELLING one of their established players.
Brazil international Cunha has caught the eye of several Prem sides since his move to Molineux in December 2022.
Aware of their rivals’ eagerness to sign the former Atletico Madrid man, Wolves tied him down to a bumper new deal in February.
They also increased their valuation of the 25-year-old, who the Daily Mail claim new United gaffer Ruben Amorim is keen to sign in the summer.
But they also claim Amorim will have to offload “at least one senior player” in order to match Wolves’ asking price.
Cunha has a £62.5million release clause in his new contract, which expires in the summer of 2029.
United have several players on the books they could cash in on to finance a summer swoop for Cunha, who has found the back of the net 15 times in 29 appearances this season.
Loanees Antony, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho – who are currently with Real Betis, Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively – are contenders to be sold this summer.
Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag at the Old Trafford helm last November, is eager to start building a team to reflect his ethos in the summer.
But he admits he won’t be able to do that unless he gets rid of some of the deadwood at the club.
When asked about Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s recent cost-cutting spree, the Portuguese replied: “It is simple.
“To do something, we need to sell players.
“Our focus now is to win these games. Then we have time to focus on that.”
Manchester United will be back in action on Sunday evening, travelling to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle United.
TED Kotcheff, the legendary filmmaker who launched John Rambo onto the big screen, has died at the age of 94.
His death was confirmed by his family to Canadian outlet The Globe and Mail as tributes pour in for the Hollywood icon.
He is survived by his wife Laifun Chun, their two children, and three children from his first marriage to British actress Sylvia Kay.
Kotcheff, whose career spanned more than five decades, was behind box office hits like First Blood, Weekend at Bernie’s, Fun With Dick and Jane and North Dallas Forty.
The Canadian also made his mark on the small screen as a longtime director and producer on Law & Order: SVU.
“Ted was an integral part of the SVU family for over 13 years. He was not only a great producer and director, he was also a close friend. I will miss him,” said SVU creator Dick Wolf.
Born in Toronto in 1931, Kotcheff began in Canadian television before relocating to the UK, where he made his first directorial debut in 1962 with the comedy Tiara Tahiti.
But it was his work on the brutal 1971 Aussie thriller Wake in Fright and the award-winning The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz that first put him on the global map.
Starring Richard Dreyfuss, the film won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and scored an Oscar nod for best adapted screenplay.
In Hollywood, Kotcheff delivered smash hits including the 1977 satire Fun With Dick and Jane, starring George Segal and Jane Fonda, and the gritty football drama North Dallas Forty with Nick Nolte.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
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AFTER 60 years of business, a beloved shoe chain branch is set to close in just hours.
“Locals lament yet another loss on the high street and urge, “People need to start supporting independent businesses before we lose them all.”
A.G. Meek is shutting a branch on Eastgate Street, Gloucester, today.
The closure will mean the chain has just four remaining sites, all of which are in Wales.
Owner David Meek said the shop is shutting due to the upcoming employer National Insurance Contributions, a decrease in business rate relief and lower footfall.
From this month the rate of National Insurance that employers must pay will rise from 13.8% to 15%.
Meanwhile, the threshold at which they are paid will be lowered from £9,100 to £5,000.
Plus an existing discount on retail business rates will fall from 75% to 40%.
In a post on Facebook, Mr Meek said: “We have been struggling with rapidly rising costs and reduced footfall since the pandemic and the shop has not been covering its costs.
“I have held off hoping things would improve, but the recent budget is a disaster for small businesses employing lots of part time staff like ours.
“Our National Insurance on one shop and our business rates are increasing by £5,000 a year each from April and this is unsustainable.
The chain launched a closing down sale, with discounts available on a range of branded shoes.
Customers who made a purchase could also get a £10 voucher to use on the A.G. Meek website or at one of the retailer’s other branches in south Wales.
Dozens of disappointed shoppers have flooded to the comment section of the Facebook post to share their woes.
One person said: “Oh no. So sad. Another loss for Gloucester. So sorry to hear this A.G. Meek.”
Followed by a second: “Sorry to hear this A.G. Meek – times on the high street are tough. Wishing you and all the staff every success for the future.”
A third said: “This is such bad news for Gloucester but a common story around UK towns and cities.”
Then a fourth said: “This is so sad. People really do need to start using independent businesses before we lose them all.”
Meanwhile a fifth said: “This is so sad to read as your business is part of the fabric of Gloucester’s history.
“Sorry to hear your closing. I wish you all the best for the future.”
Others shared memories of shopping at A.G. Meek for handbags, gloves, and even wedding shoes.
A.G. Meek opened its first shop in Cardiff in 1912.
It became popular in the 1950s for its Meek’s Sets, which includes shoes, bags and gloves.
However, in another recent Facebook post, A.G. Meek announced the closure of its Albany Road branch in Cardiff.
The spokesperson added they want to “concentrate their business” into their St David’s Centre Shop in Cardiff City Centre and their newest shop in Cwmbran Centre.
The Albany Road store will close its doors for good in mid June.
EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre’s decline.
The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors.
In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping.
Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed.
The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing.
Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns.
Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead.
In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few.
What’s increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online.
They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year
A US missionary was dragged from the pulpit at gunpoint by armed kidnappers who forced him down the aisle in front of horrified worshippers.
Pastor Josh Sullivan, 45, was abducted in front of his wife and kids, as well as up to 50 of his flock at a sermon in South Africa.
His frightened family watched in horror as the dad was pushed out the church with a pistol aimed at his head.
One man escorted him out while three others robbed the congregation.
The four men then drove off in a getaway car and Sullivan’s silver Toyota Fortuner.
The vehicle was later found abandoned several miles away with no sign of the gang of ruthless gunmen.
South African Police have put into place a 72-hour specialist kidnap procedure where they will not discuss details of the ongoing investigation except confirm basic details.
But police spokesperson Captain Andrew Beetge confirmed the pastor was kidnapped at gunpoint by four masked men while church members were robbed and ordered to keep schtum.
Beetge said: “Just to give assurance this case is taking top priority for the police and in all kidnapping cases certain protocols come into place as well as a 72-hour action plan.
“We limit the information that goes out to the public to ensure the safety of the kidnapped persons but we can assure the public we are doing all we can to get this man back.”
His mother Tonya Morton Rinket, from Tennessee, said on her Facebook page: “My heart is breaking please continue to pray for my son, daughter-in-law and all of our family.”
“Joshua is still missing but our congressman and the American Embassy are aware and working on finding them and I know he is doing God’s work and will be kept safe.”
South African Police Motherwell and the elite SAPS Anti-Gang Unit have opened the case and reportedly have several leads.
Churchman Sullivan was taken at 19:00pm on Thursday.
The church he was at is based in the largest township in Nelson Mandela Bay.
He has moved to South Africa from Maryville, Tennessee, in 2018 to become a “church planter”, which is a Baptist missionary who establishes new churches and congregations in new areas.
On the Fellowship Baptist Church Motherwell website, Sullivan expressed his desire to work with South Africans and “plant a church for the Xhosa-speaking people”.
The pastor’s brother-in-law Zach Witt said: “Please pray for the safety of my brother as he was abducted and is still missing but let us all pray for his safer return to his family.”
Friends of the Sullivan couple, Jeremy and Rebekah Hall, are looking after the three kids and mum at their home.
Jeremy Hall said: “The police have a lead on a suspect they are pursing at the moment.
“I pray for a safe return and grace and comfort from the Holy Spirit for this family.
He suggested that the armed men knew Sullivan personally, explaining: “The gang came into the church and initially held Meagan and walked her towards the door before saying ‘Josh is this your wife’ so they knew them and then pushed her to the floor.”
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
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A MAJOR gift card chain has hinted of more stores closures ahead of shutting another two stores.
Clintons, which returned to profit earlier this week, warned that rising costs driven by labour tax hikes and the increasing minimum wage continue to make some of its stores financially unviable.
This warning comes despite the closure of 38 stores and the loss of over 300 jobs in the previous financial year.
The card shop, which was acquired by Pillarbox Designs in March 2024, announced a pre-tax profit of £8million for the year ending 29 June 2024.
This represents a significant financial turnaround from the £5.3million pre-tax loss reported in the previous year.
However, in its latest financial update, the company acknowledged the possibility of additional closures.
A statement from Clintons read: “The company has continued to close loss-making stores and the portfolio of retail stores is now down to approximately 170 stores.
“The high street continues to be unpredictable and the company is seeing reduced footfall in the stores year on year.
“The company continues to monitor the performance of the existing estate and to close the poor performing stores, which, whilst impacting on turnover, should improve profitability moving forwards.”
Clintons in Keighley, West Yorkshire, announced earlier this month that it will be closing its doors on June 14.
In preparation for the closure, the store has launched a clearance sale, offering 20% off all items.
Meanwhile, “Everything Must Go” signs have been spotted at Clintons’ store in Leamington Spa, where discounts of up to 50% are currently available.
However, the final closure date for the Leamington Spa location has yet to be confirmed.
In its latest financial update, the retailer also addressed additional challenges impacting its operations: “Like many other retailers, the company continues to face significant cost pressure on wages given the increases in the national minimum wage.
“Conversely, energy costs for the business began to ease during the year with the deal in October 2023 representing a material saving compared to the deal for the prior year.”
Like many businesses, Clintons now faces higher employer national insurance contributions, which have risen from 13.8% to 15%.
Additionally, the threshold at which these contributions must be paid has been lowered from £9,100 to £5,000.
These changes to the tax system were confirmed by the Chancellor in the Autumn Budget last October and came into effect on 1 April.
At the same time, the national minimum wage saw a notable increase, rising to £12.21 per hour. For workers aged 18-20, the minimum wage increased by £1.40 to £10 per hour.
Clintons was first launched back in 1968 – and quickly became a go-to for Brits looking for greetings cards.
At one point, the chain boasted more than 1,000 branches across the country.
Clintons was contacted for comment.
EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre’s decline.
The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors.
In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping.
Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed.
The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing.
Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns.
Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead.
In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few.
What’s increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online.
They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
Beales, one of Britain’s oldest department stores, has launched a closing down sale before it shuts its last remaining shop after more than 140 years.
The company will shut its branch in Poole’s Dolphin Centre on May 31.
The sale includes fashion, furniture, gifts and cosmetics, being sold for up to 70% off.
Beales chief executive Tony Brown blamed the “devastating impact” of the rise in national insurance contributions and the higher minimum wage for the store closure.
Meanwhile, high street fashion chain New Look has begun to close stores as it scales back its UK footprint.
It is understood to be shutting nearly 100 stores – equivalent to around a quarter of its 364 shops.
Stores in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, St Austell, Cornwall and Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf have launched closing down sales.
Reports suggest that the company has been forced to accelerate the pace of store closures due to tax changes in the Autumn Budget.
Meanwhile, Huttons in London will shut its store in the Putney Exchange due to excessive energy costs.
The gift shop became a local icon after it opened in the 1990s.
