Over a Third of TG Jones Post Offices to Close by Early 2027
More than 70 branches in the former WH Smith chain are shutting, raising fears of 'postal deserts' in UK towns and cities.
More than a third of post offices operating inside TG Jones stores — the high street chain formerly branded as WH Smith — are set to disappear within the next two years, according to Post Office records reviewed by the Guardian. Thirty-six branches have already closed in 2025 alone, with an additional 34 slated to shut by early 2027.
The wave of closures is stoking alarm among consumer advocates and community groups, who warn that entire town and city centres could be left as so-called "postal deserts" — areas where residents lack convenient access to postal and financial services that post offices traditionally provide.
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The TG Jones chain inherited a substantial network of in-store post office counters from its days under the WH Smith name, making it one of the more significant retail partners in the Post Office's effort to maintain a nationwide presence on British high streets. The loss of more than a third of those outlets in rapid succession represents a notable contraction of that footprint.
The closures add to wider pressure on the Post Office network at a time when the organisation is navigating financial difficulties and reputational challenges following the Horizon IT scandal. Critics argue that the pace of branch losses risks leaving vulnerable and elderly residents without easy access to essential services, particularly in areas where alternative providers are scarce.
Continue reading at Business | The Guardian
