British Heart Foundation Store Closures: Full List, Liverpool 2026

Key Points

• The British Heart Foundation intends to close about 150 stores over the next two financial years in the UK.
• About 90 stores will be closed by the end of March 2027, while the rest will be closed by March 2028.
• According to BHF, the organization had recorded a loss of £3.3 million from the retail business for the financial year ending March 2026.
• Some of the Merseyside branches which will be closed include Formby, Huyton, and Ormskirk.
• BHF explained that increasing operating costs and changes in shopping habits were making certain stores unsustainable.
• Fourteen of the 150 stores scheduled for closure have been reported to be shut already.
• The BHF had 651 stores in its retail estate as at 31 March 2026, including 470 clothing stores and 181 home stores.
• The BHF stated that the organization will continue collecting donations through other nearby branches, donation points, home collections in some areas, and through online services.
• The charity awarded £103 million worth of new cardiovascular research grants in 2025-26.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) September 28, 2026 – the British Heart Foundation has confirmed plans to close shops in Formby, Huyton and Ormskirk as part of a wider programme affecting around 150 stores across the UK.

The British Heart Foundation is closing around 150 high street shops after its retail operation recorded a £3.3 million loss during the financial year ending March 2026.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the closures follow losses across the charity’s retail operation and will take place over the next two financial years. The newspaper said the BHF is reshaping its high street presence in response to rising operating costs and changing customer shopping habits.

The affected Formby branch is at 1 The Cloisters, Halsall Lane, Formby, L37 3PX. The Huyton shop is at 37 Derby Road, Huyton, L36 9UQ, while the Ormskirk branch is located at 18 Burscough Street, Ormskirk, L39 2ER.

The BHF’s plan is not limited to Merseyside. Other North West locations identified for closure include shops in Blackpool, Burnley, Chorley, Cleveleys, Eccles, Harpurhey and Kendal, as well as Ormskirk. The Liverpool Echo reported that the full closure list covers locations across the charity’s national retail network.

Why is the BHF closing its shops?

The BHF said the decision followed a detailed review of its retail estate. In a statement published on 4 June 2026, the charity said rising operating costs and changing customer and donor habits meant some shops were no longer financially sustainable.

The charity said it would close approximately 90 shops by the end of March 2027. The remaining stores in the wider programme are expected to close by March 2028.

The BHF also said the changes would include a proposed reduction in the central teams and functions supporting its retail operation. It described the move as necessary to maintain a sustainable retail network and protect the funds generated for cardiovascular research.

As reported by Mark Sweney of The Guardian, the BHF’s retail review was also influenced by shoppers moving towards online purchasing. Sweney reported that the organisation’s retail arm employed almost 3,700 staff and that around a quarter of its high street locations had become commercially unsustainable.

The Guardian previously reported that net profit across approximately 640 BHF stores fell from £18.8 million in 2024 to £3.6 million in the year ending 31 March 2025. It also reported that the charity was considering job reductions in central functions supporting the retail operation.

More recent accounts cited by regional newspapers show that the retail operation subsequently moved from profit into a £3.3 million net loss during 2025–26. The Oxford Mail reported that the level of financial return generated by the shops was described by the charity as “not sustainable”.

Which Merseyside stores are closing?

The three Merseyside stores identified in the closure programme are:

• Formby, 1 The Cloisters, Halsall Lane, L37 3PX.
• Huyton, 37 Derby Road, L36 9UQ.
• Ormskirk, 18 Burscough Street, L39 2ER.

The closure dates for individual branches have not been provided in the available reports. The BHF has indicated that the programme will be phased across two financial years rather than completed simultaneously.

Customers and donors in these areas may therefore continue to find some affected branches operating until their individual closure arrangements are finalised. The charity has said that supporters can continue to shop and donate at affected locations while they remain open.

How many British Heart Foundation shops are affected?

The BHF has proposed closing around 150 shops and stores from its national network. The organisation said that approximately 90 would close by the end of March 2027, with the rest closing by March 2028.

The charity’s annual report states that its retail estate comprised 651 shops as of 31 March 2026. This included 470 clothing shops and 181 home stores. Based on that figure, the proposed closures would affect a substantial part of the network, although the BHF would continue to operate hundreds of branches and online retail channels after the programme.

The Retail Gazette reported in July that the BHF had identified the first 87 shops expected to close by the end of March 2027. The report said the locations included branches in England, Scotland and Wales.

The precise schedule for every store may depend on local operational arrangements, staff notifications and the completion of the charity’s closure process. The BHF’s own June announcement said it would publish locations earmarked for closure during the relevant financial year after affected colleagues had been personally notified.

What financial results led to the closures?

The BHF’s retail operation recorded a £3.3 million loss in 2025–26, according to the accounts and regional reports covering the latest financial year.

The Hereford Times reported that retail costs increased by 5 per cent to £240 million, while turnover rose by 1.5 per cent to £236 million. The figures indicate that expenditure was rising faster than retail income, putting pressure on the financial return generated by the shops.

The Oxford Mail reported that 14 of the shops earmarked for closure had already shut following the announcement. It said the remaining closure programme would continue through March 2028.

The wider financial position of the charity remains different from the performance of its retail operation. The BHF’s 2026 annual report said the charity raised total income of £175.3 million during the year. This included £105.5 million from legacies and a record £62.1 million from fundraising.

The charity also said it awarded £103 million for new cardiovascular research in 2025–26, increasing its research portfolio to nearly £500 million. It spent £54.2 million on health information and support, according to the annual report.

What has the British Heart Foundation said?

The BHF said the closures were intended to protect the long-term contribution made by its retail operation rather than end its high street presence.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said the organisation was operating in an “exceptionally challenging trading environment”. She said shops remained important to colleagues, volunteers and local communities, but added that difficult action was required to sustain retail’s contribution to research.

The charity’s chief commercial officer, Allison Swaine-Hughes, said the decision followed a thorough review and acknowledged the effect on employees and volunteers. She said change was necessary to create a sustainable future for BHF retail and continue raising funds for the charity’s work.

The BHF said its overall financial position remained healthy, supported by fundraising and legacy income. It also said the charity would continue operating a large national network of shops alongside its website and eBay retail channels.

Where can people donate after a shop closes?

The BHF said supporters would still be able to donate through alternative channels after affected branches close.

These options include nearby BHF shops, donation points, home collection services in some areas and online postal donation services. The available options may vary by location and by the type of item being donated.

The charity has not indicated that the closure programme will end its wider retail operation. Instead, it has said that the remaining network and online channels will be developed to reflect changing shopping and donor behaviour.

What does the full closure list include?

The closure programme includes branches across England, Scotland and Wales. Reports have identified locations such as Armley, Aberdare, Alfreton, Abingdon, Ashbourne, Bedworth, Beckenham, Balham, Barnet, Bath and Brighton.

The Liverpool Echo’s report specifically identifies Formby, Huyton and Ormskirk among the Merseyside branches affected. Other North West locations reported as being included are Blackpool, Burnley, Chorley, Cleveleys, Eccles, Harpurhey and Kendal.

The complete list should be checked against the BHF’s published closure information because stores may close in stages and the status of individual branches can change during the programme. The BHF said it would communicate locations and arrangements as affected staff were notified.

Background to the British Heart Foundation development

The British Heart Foundation is the UK’s largest charity retailer and uses income from retail, fundraising and legacies to support research and services relating to heart and circulatory disease.

Its 2026 annual report said more than 8 million people in the UK live with a heart or circulatory condition. During 2025–26, the organisation awarded £103 million for new research and reported a research portfolio worth nearly £500 million.

The charity’s retail network has faced the same pressures affecting other high street operators, including increased staffing and property costs, changes in consumer behaviour and the growth of online shopping and resale platforms.

The decision to close around 150 shops was first announced by the BHF on 4 June 2026. The charity said approximately 90 stores would close by March 2027 and the remaining stores by March 2028. The latest regional reports state that 14 shops earmarked for closure had already shut.

The BHF has said the purpose of the programme is to ensure its retail activity remains commercially sustainable and continues to provide funds for lifesaving research, rather than to withdraw completely from high street retail.

How could the closures affect shoppers and donors?

The closures could reduce access to BHF charity shops for shoppers, donors and volunteers in affected communities, particularly where a branch is the only nearby location accepting furniture, clothing or household items.

Customers in Formby, Huyton, Ormskirk and the other affected areas may need to travel to another shop or use an alternative donation method after their local branch closes. The impact is likely to vary according to the availability of neighbouring stores, donation points and collection services.

For local high streets, the closures may leave additional vacant units if replacement occupiers are not found quickly. However, the scale of that effect will depend on whether landlords secure new tenants and whether the BHF stores are replaced by other charity, retail or service businesses.

For the BHF, the intended effect is to reduce losses from locations that no longer generate a sustainable financial return. If the remaining shops and online channels perform more strongly, the charity may be able to direct a greater proportion of retail income towards research and support services. That outcome will depend on whether cost reductions outweigh lost sales, donation capacity and local supporter engagement.

The most immediate practical issue for affected audiences is to check the closure status of their nearest branch before travelling and identify the closest alternative donation or shopping channel.