Popular charity shop with stores all over London to close 150 outlets in the UK

The charity has not yet announced which stores will be closing

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has announced plans to close 150 of its 640 charity shops across the UK. The first 90 branches will shut by March 2027, with the rest closing by March 2028.

The charity, which operates 640 shops nationwide, has confirmed the closures owing to escalating expenses and changing consumer patterns. Management stated the charity is confronting an “exceptionally challenging trading environment” but pledged to maintain their “groundbreaking research”.

Staff at the affected outlets will receive support from the charity, with redeployment options offered where possible. The decision to shut the shops follows an assessment of the charity’s retail operations, with the British Heart Foundation explaining that certain outlets are no longer financially viable due to mounting overheads.

The British Heart Foundation will maintain its online presence to generate funds, including an official eBay storefront, to reflect shifting consumer habits.

The announcement of the closures emerges as the UK charity retail sector continues to experience mounting challenges. Cancer Research UK has previously outlined proposals to close 190 outlets by 2027, while Barnardo’s has similarly been forced to shut loss-making branches this year, reports the Express.

‘Exceptionally challenging trading environment’

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive, commented: “Our shops mean so much to our colleagues, brilliant volunteers and communities across the UK. They are places where people come together to donate, shop and volunteer, helping to make a real difference to lives affected by cardiovascular disease. We know this will be a difficult time for our dedicated colleagues and volunteers in affected stores and emphasise our deep appreciation and gratitude for all they have done for BHF and the communities they serve.”

She added: “Like most retailers, we are facing an exceptionally challenging trading environment. Cardiovascular disease remains one of the UK’s biggest killers and our priority is funding research to save lives. We must take the difficult step to close some of our shops to sustain retail’s important contribution to funding BHF’s groundbreaking research.”

Allison Swaine-Hughes, chief commercial officer, stated: “Our success to date has been shaped by the dedication and contribution of our teams across the UK and this has been an incredibly difficult decision following a thorough and careful review. We recognise how challenging this will be especially for colleagues whose roles are affected and we are committed to supporting everyone impacted.”

She added: “We must act now to ensure a sustainable future for BHF retail. Change is essential so we can continue to serve communities across the UK and raise the funds that power our lifesaving research. This is about protecting our mission for the long term, even when the decisions in the shorter term are hard.”

The British Heart Foundation is yet to publish a list of stores confirmed to be closing. The charity currently operates roughly 70 stores in London, and has not yet disclosed whether any will be affected.

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