Huge ‘closing down’ signs appear in windows of high street favourite as 150-store axe falls on another town

A HIGH street favourite is closing another branch, with huge “closing down” signs now plastered across the shop windows. TG Jones, formerly WH Smith, is shutting its Fishergate store in Preston, with the doors set to close for good on January 9, 2027. The store, which is also part of St George’s Shopping Centre, has already launched an “everything must go” sale, with yellow signs declaring “Everything Must Go” and “Store Closing Down” appearing in the windows this week. The sale kicked off today, Friday September 18. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! A spokesperson for TG Jones said: “As we work to secure the long-term future of TG Jones, we have confirmed that our Preston shop will close.” They added: “We know this will be disappointing news for our colleagues, customers, and the local community.” The spokesperson said the firm’s “focus now is on supporting those affected and continuing to serve customers throughout the closure period.” They also thanked staff, saying: “We would like to thank all of our colleagues for their commitment and the contribution they have made to TG Jones.” The closure comes just weeks after TG Jones won court approval for a major shake-up of the business, which is expected to see around 150 stores axed across the country and hundreds of jobs put at risk. The High Court approved the restructuring plan as a way to stop the business from collapsing into insolvency. Most read in Money TG Jones was created after WH Smith sold off its high street shops last year in a £76million deal with Modella Capital. Since then, the chain has struggled to trade successfully, prompting bosses to seek the restructuring plan approved by the courts in July. As part of the shake-up, 19 stores were confirmed to be closing this month, including branches in Bath, Redcar, Redhill, Cambridge, Swindon and Southend-on-Sea, with closing down sales offering shoppers up to 30% off stationery before the shutters come down for good. More closures are expected in October, alongside rent reductions at other branches as bosses continue working through the wider restructuring plan. Comment now