Could things finally be turning around for the British High Street?
It’s been a torrid few years for British shoppers, as expensive rents, lower footfall and the cost of living crisis have seen an unprecedented number of store closures across the UK.
But that could soon be about to change, as a number of beloved retailers have slowly but surely been returning to the high street after previously falling into administration.
This week saw the return of iconic department store Debenhams after it was closed down three years ago, following a takeover by fashion brand Boohoo.
It follows a number of brands which have staged comebacks in recent months, including clothing brands such as Topshop and Cath Kidson and toy retailer Toys R Us.
Here’s a full list of all the brands which have returned to our streets over the coming months:
Cath Kidston
Cath Kidston, the beloved fashion and homeware brand known for its iconic floral prints and vintage-inspired designs, has made a triumphant return to the UK high street.
The retailer, which first opened its doors in 1993, faced administration last year, leading to the closure of all its physical stores by June 2023. However, after being acquired by Next, the brand reopened its first new store on October 18 at Westfield White City in London.
The announcement was teased on Instagram with images of hoardings adorned with Cath Kidston’s signature floral patterns, accompanied by the caption: ‘Why yes. Yes, you guessed right.’
The brand has declined to confirm whether it planned to open further Cath Kidston stores.
Topshop
Topshop, the once-dominant force in British fashion, could be staging a dramatic return to the high street.
The popular fashion retailer recently shared a video on Instagram featuring London Mayor Sadiq Khan calling for the brand to return to London’s iconic Oxford Street.
In the clip, Khan reminisced about his memories of the brand, and said: ‘I’d meet my mates outside Topshop, my daughters I used to take shopping at Topshop and I know every type of Topshop jean. Wouldn’t it be great to get Topshop back on Oxford Street?’
It comes after a recent Instagram post teased the return of the brand, with a picture captioned: ‘watch this space’.
Wilko
Wilko, the budget home and garden retailer, is making a remarkable return to the high street after closing all 400 of its stores in 2023. The brand’s name was rescued by The Range in a £5 million deal, sparking hope among loyal customers.
Since then, physical stores have reopened in Plymouth, Exeter, Luton, St Albans, and Rotherham, with plans to expand across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Chris Dawson, owner of Wilko, aims to open 300 stores over the next five years, and has said all the new shops are currently turning a profit.
Toys R Us
Toys R Us, the iconic toy retailer that captured the hearts of 90s kids, has made a successful return to the UK high street in recent years. Following a series of concessions launched in 2023, the brand announced plans to open 23 additional ‘shop-in-shop’ locations inside WHSmith stores ahead of Christmas last year.
Founded in 1957, Toys R Us grew to 100 UK stores and bvecame a beloved fixture of the high street before collapsing in 2018. Its relaunch began in June 2022 with a store in York, and the response has been overwhelming.
Sean Toal, managing director of WHSmith High Street, said: ‘Nearly 40 years ago, Toys R Us first came to the UK, and we take great pride in being the steward of this much-loved brand in the UK.
‘We’ve had queues around the block for many openings in the last year, which tells you just how much people are loving seeing Toys R Us back again.’
M&Co
Scottish fashion retailer M&Co made a dramatic return to the high street last year just months after falling into administration.
A new store opened last April in Newton Mearns, Scotland, on the site of a former branch. The revival follows the brand’s acquisition by AK Retail Holdings in May 2023.
Sandra McPherson, head of retail for M&Co, expressed excitement about reconnecting with customers, and said: ‘We are thrilled to welcome back our loyal customers in-store. This expansion symbolises our commitment to bringing stores back to the high street.’
M&Co had collapsed in December 2022, with its brand and intellectual property later purchased by Yours Clothing.
Paperchase
Paperchase, the stationery and gift retailer, returned to the high street in a new format last year, after closing all 134 of its stores and concessions in 2023.
Following its collapse in April 2023, supermarket giant Tesco acquired the brand and introduced Paperchase products in 261 of its stores.
The move has brought relief to fans of the brand, which had previously operated 106 standalone stores and 28 concessions within Next and Selfridges.
A total of 261 Tesco stores now stock Paperchase products in a variety of locations across the country.
What will this mean for the High Street?
Will this move see a reversal of fortunes for the struggling British High Street? Experts are torn.
Ben Shaw, chief strategy officer for brand strategy agency MullenLowe, told Metro: ‘The revival of defunct brands like Debenhams, Topshop, and Wilko isn’t about nostalgia, it’s about pure commercial logic.
‘Investors see brand recognition as an easy shortcut to customer acquisition, hoping that familiar names will give them an edge in an overcrowded market. But what makes sense on a P&L sheet doesn’t always translate to consumer behaviour.’
He added: ‘The problem is, these brands aren’t coming back in the way people remember them. Debenhams’ return isn’t about heritage department store shopping, it’s Boohoo’s functional distribution play, repackaging a legacy name for a digitally-obsessed and trend-driven audience.
‘That disconnect is where revivals often fail – do they honour what made the brand valuable, or are they slapping a logo on a new business model and hoping for the best?
‘The high street isn’t saved by nostalgia alone. For these returns to work, brands need genuine consumer relevance, not just a familiar name slapped on a new format.’
Sam Richardson, Executive Engagement Director at Twilio, said: ‘2025 will be an exciting time for brands. After the supposed ‘death of the high street’, we are witnessing a reinvention of physical retail spaces – just look at the return of HMV’s flagship store on Oxford Circus, a perfect example of the high street’s revival.
‘Leading brands are creating spaces of beauty, discovery, and wonder, offering playful, human, and tactile experiences that truly resonate with their audience.
‘Take Sephora, for example, with its ‘Ready for more black and white stripes?’ takeover of Newcastle. It was playful, engaging, and perfectly targeted. With overnight queues on launch day, it’s clear the high street is far from dead.
‘We’ll see more of this in the year ahead, as more brands better understand consumers’ needs across both physical and digital touchpoints. It’s all about establishing the balance and putting a smile back on our faces across all brand-customer interactions.’
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