An iconic British footwear chain has closed one of its long-standing stores, marking another blow to the UK high street as retailers continue to face mounting economic pressure. Schuh, one of the country’s most recognisable shoe brands with more than 120 stores across the UK, closed its branch inside the Eden Shopping Centre in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, on Saturday.
The closure came just a week after the retailer announced the store’s shutdown and launched a major clearance sale to sell off remaining stock. Shoppers were offered significant discounts on popular brands including Nike, Adidas and Dr. Martens in the final days of trading.
A notice was displayed in the shop window last weekend informing customers that the site would be closing for good. Staff spent the final few days helping customers find last-minute bargains before the store’s doors closed on Saturday evening.
One customer praised staff at the High Wycombe branch, writing online: “Just to say how the staff in the High Wycombe store are fantastic.
“I would just like to say an extra thank you to Maddie for handling my broken pair of Birkenstocks with five-star customer service. What an asset to the company Maddie is.”
While Schuh confirmed the High Wycombe closure, nearby stores in Reading, Watford, and Oxford remain open and continue to trade as normal. The company has not announced further closures at this stage.
The move comes amid a challenging period for traditional high street retailers, many of whom are struggling with rising rent, energy costs, and competition from online shopping.
In some cases, retailers have been forced to close after landlords declined to renew leases.
Schuh’s closure follows similar announcements from other national chains. Jewellery retailer Beaverbrooks recently confirmed it would shut its High Wycombe site after 17 years in the town, as part of a wider review expected to see up to seven stores close nationwide.
Local business owners say the closures are a worrying sign for High Wycombe’s retail sector, which has seen several independent shops also close in recent months.
The shuttering of the Schuh branch marks the end of an era for one of the Eden Shopping Centre’s longest-serving stores, and serves as another reminder of the difficulties facing Britain’s high streets in 2025.
