Plymouth Branch Shuts Doors as Pavers Navigates Challenging Retail Landscape
Pavers, a well-established shoe retailer with over 170 stores across the UK, closed its Plymouth city centre branch on Sunday, 8th February 2026. The New George Street location displayed a notice informing customers that whilst this particular store was closing, the brand's Plymouth Barbican store would remain open to serve local shoppers. The closure comes without official explanation from the company, which has maintained its policy of not providing formal comments on individual store closures.
Founded in 1971 by Catherine Paver in York, the retailer has built a reputation for comfortable footwear over more than five decades. The company stocks a wide range of shoes, boots, trainers, slippers and sandals for men and women, alongside accessories including bags, hats, gloves and scarves. Despite recording its highest ever sales of £155 million in January 2023, Pavers faced operational challenges that impacted profitability, with pre-tax profits falling from £7.9 million to £5.95 million.
Local shoppers expressed disappointment at the closure, with one customer claiming Plymouth city centre risks becoming a "ghost town". Another loyal customer told PlymouthLive that Pavers was their favourite shop for boots, describing the closure as "another casualty of online shopping". The store held a final clearance sale offering 50% off remaining stock before closing its doors. It remains unclear whether staff members will face redundancy or be relocated to other branches.
Quiz Administration Adds to Growing List of Fashion Retail Casualties
Just three days before the Pavers closure, fashion retailer Quiz tumbled into administration for the third time since 2020, marking another devastating blow to the UK high street. Administrators from Interpath were appointed on 5th February 2026 to oversee the restructuring of the Glasgow-based chain, which targets fashion-forward females aged 16 to 35. The immediate impact proved severe, with 109 redundancies confirmed across the company's head office in Glasgow and its distribution centre in Bellshill, Lanarkshire—representing nearly one-fifth of Quiz's 565-strong workforce.
The retailer's online store shut down completely following the administration appointment, though its 40 physical shops across the UK and seven concessions in Ireland remain open for now. Founded in 1993, Quiz had expanded to more than 275 shops in the United Kingdom and over 50 shops in other parts of Europe and Asia by 2017. Joint administrator Alistair McAlinden acknowledged that Quiz represents "the latest retailer to fall into administration" during what has been "a tough start to 2026 for the UK high street". The administrators stated their intention to continue trading all stores and Irish concessions as a going concern whilst assessing options for the business's future.
Customers face significant limitations on returns and refunds following the administration. All 40 stores immediately launched clearance sales, and products purchased on or after 5th February 2026 are not eligible for returns unless faulty. Products purchased before this date can be exchanged in person at Quiz shops, but card or cash refunds will not be provided under any circumstances. Gift cards and credit notes will not be honoured, leaving many customers unable to use their existing store credit.
UK Shoe Retail Sector Faces Wave of Store Closures and Administrations
The British footwear industry has experienced a particularly turbulent period, with multiple major retailers entering administration or closing significant numbers of stores. In January 2026, Next acquired Russell & Bromley in a pre-pack administration deal for £2.5 million, reportedly leading to the closure of 33 stores and nine concessions. Only three Russell & Bromley locations—Oxford Street, King's Road in London, and Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent—were transferred to Next under license, securing the future of this much-loved British footwear brand under new ownership.
Budget footwear chain Shoe Zone closed 39 stores over the past year after revenues fell by 7.6% to £149.1 million, with its store count dropping from 297 to 269 in the 52 weeks to September 2025. Chairman Charles Smith acknowledged the retailer faced "a challenging year, particularly in the second half, as consumer confidence fell following the Government's October 2024 budget". The company attributed closures to mounting operational expenses, particularly the rise in National Insurance contributions for employers, alongside escalating business rates, wage increases and unfavourable weather conditions.
Clarks, the iconic British shoe retailer founded in 1825, has also announced multiple branch closures across the UK. The company, which currently operates 320 stores nationwide, closed several branches throughout 2025 including locations in Dundee, Fareham Shopping Centre, Inverness high street, and Westwood Cross Shopping Centre in Broadstairs. The retailer closed its last domestic manufacturing factory in 2019 after reporting an £84.4 million loss, having moved production to the Far East from 2005 onwards.
Economic Pressures and Changing Consumer Habits Squeeze Footwear Retailers
The UK footwear retail sector faces mounting pressure from multiple economic headwinds that have fundamentally altered the industry landscape. Cost-of-living pressures have dampened footwear sales, with average monthly consumer spending on footwear decreasing from £982 million in the first quarter of 2025 to £981 million in the second quarter. This decline has been ongoing since the second quarter of 2024, representing an overall decrease of 2.2% in average monthly consumer spending on footwear. Persistent inflation, higher interest rates and reduced levels of disposable income have all contributed to negative economic and consumer sentiment across the UK.
The British Retail Consortium has warned that the Treasury's hike to employer National Insurance contributions from April 2026 will cost the retail sector £2.3 billion, whilst the rise in minimum wage provides additional costs to an already struggling sector. Three-quarters of retail companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. Rising business rates have compounded these challenges, with the British Retail Consortium warning that 400 large-format shops could face closure if proposed tax changes proceed. The Centre for Retail Research has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down in 2026, following 13,000 shop closures in 2024—already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Online shopping has fundamentally transformed consumer behaviour, with footwear retailers facing intense competition from online-only retailers, clothing retailers, supermarkets and department stores. These competitors exploit their economies of scale to drive prices down whilst attracting customers through one-stop-shop appeal, thereby reducing foot traffic in specialist shoe stores. Online footwear sales in the UK increased by 39% during pandemic lockdowns, and whilst volumes dipped when shoppers returned to the high street, overall volumes remain significantly higher than pre-Covid levels as buying patterns have permanently shifted. The online footwear retail industry has seen revenue decline at a CAGR of 7.1% over the past five years to reach an estimated £1.2 billion in 2026, reflecting consolidation and intense competition in the digital space.
Future Outlook Remains Uncertain for High Street Footwear Retailers
Despite the challenges, the UK footwear market generated revenue of USD 15,031.9 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 18,878.6 million by 2030, representing a projected growth rate of 3.9% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. However, this growth is expected to be concentrated in online channels and athletic footwear segments, whilst traditional high street retailers continue to struggle. The Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that inflation will hit the 2% target in 2026 and remain on target until 2030, which should help boost consumer confidence and return real disposable incomes to a positive growth trajectory.
Footwear retailers face a substantial sales barrier in the online space, as customers cannot try on shoes prior to purchase. While this affects the wider clothing retailing industry, many customers buy shoes less frequently than other clothing items, relying on each pair for comfort and style that matches their wardrobe. Some retailers are exploring technology solutions to mimic the in-store experience, including virtual try-on features and improved return policies. Sustainability and ethical considerations are becoming increasingly important for consumers, leading to rising demand for eco-friendly and ethically produced footwear made from recycled plastics and organic materials.
The retail landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the Centre for Retail Research, warning of a bleak outlook predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the retail sector. Joint administrator Alistair McAlinden's observation that "there's no doubt it's been a tough start to 2026 for the UK high street" reflects the sentiment across the industry. Retailers must adapt to changing consumer preferences, invest in omnichannel strategies, and find ways to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive marketplace where price, convenience and sustainability are paramount considerations for shoppers.