Overview

• WHSmith's Oldham branch will close on May 3, marking the latest step in the retailer's high street exit after 233 years.
• The company sold its remaining 480 high street stores to Modella Capital in a £76 million deal finalized in March 2025.
• Stores are being rebranded to TGJones, with closures already underway in locations such as Halstead, Woolwich, and Newport.
• WHSmith plans to focus on its more profitable travel retail division, with outlets in airports, train stations, and hospitals set for expansion.
• Approximately 5,000 jobs were preserved through the sale, though affected communities face the loss of a long-standing local presence.