British Heart Foundation proposes closure of 150 charity shops amid ‘challenging trading environment’

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has announced plans to close around 150 shops over the next two years, citing the need to ensure its shop network “remains commercially sustainable” to support fundraising efforts.

Chief executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths said the retail business is currently facing “an exceptionally challenging trading environment”.

The organisation said the proposals follow a review process in the face of escalating operating costs and evolving consumer habits, which have rendered some stores “no longer financially sustainable”.

Around 90 stores are to close by the end of March next year, with the remainder set to shut by March 2028.

The charity has said there will also be cuts to its central teams and functions that underpin its retail division, though the number of staff impacted remains undisclosed.

The stores, which run with support from volunteers, help generate funds to support the organisation’s research into cardiovascular disease.

Dr Griffiths said: “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. 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.”

The proposals come amid a wave of closures affecting the British high street, with over 6,000 retail premises having vanished from communities across England and Wales in the last five years.

However, there are tentative signs of recovery, with more than 13 retail stores opening each week over the past year, according to new figures.

Analysis of Valuation Office Agency data by tax firm Ryan reveals that there were 507,810 retail premises across England and Wales at the close of 2025.

The data suggests that a recent contraction within the sector has begun to stabilise, marked by a net increase of 723 retail stores compared to the previous year.

This growth was observed across every region of England and Wales, with the sole exception of the North West, which experienced a decline of 41 properties.

This stabilisation indicates that parts of the retail sector are starting to rebalance following the profound structural changes witnessed since the pandemic.