UK high street crisis as major retailer to close 150 stores

It comes following th eapproval of a major restructuring plan.

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Add us as preferred source Comments By Laura Zilincanova 18:14, Wed, Jul 1, 2026 Updated: 18:17, Wed, Jul 1, 2026

Closed sign in the glass door of a small business

TG Jones restructuring plans were approved (Image: Getty)

More than 100 stores are set to disappear from UK high streets after a London court approved a major restructuring plan aimed at securing the future of retailer TG Jones. The overhaul was backed after the company's legal team warned the court that the business faced an £8 million funding gap and risked insolvency if the proposal was rejected.

Under the agreement, owner Modella Capital will inject a further £15 million into the business, adding to the £10 million loan provided in April. The package also includes reduced rental costs agreed with landlords as part of the turnaround strategy.

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TG Jones, formerly known as WH Smith, currently operates around 450 stores across the UK and employs approximately 4,700 people. The restructuring is expected to result in the closure of more than 100 branches as the retailer reshapes its operations.

TG Jones newsagent store, formerly WH Smith, on Billericay High Street, Essex.

TG Jones was established in 2025 (Image: Getty)

Tom Smith KC, representing TG Jones, told the court the company expects to shut almost 150 stores as part of the restructuring programme.

Approving the plans, Mr Justice Hildyard said he was satisfied the court had the authority to approve both restructuring proposals, although he acknowledged it had been a difficult decision to reach.

The retailer adopted the TG Jones name last year after its high street business was acquired by Modella Capital, ending the WH Smith branding on its stores.

WH Smith still exists in travel locations across the UK, including airports and train stations.

Mr Smith told the court the retailer had suffered a sustained fall in sales, driven by a range of economic pressures affecting the UK retail sector.

He said soaring inflation, the continued growth of online shopping, weaker consumer confidence, rising taxes and increased employment costs had all contributed to the decline.

Mr Smith also acknowledged that the transition from the WH Smith brand to TG Jones had negatively affected trading.

Following the High Court's decision, Alex Willson, chief executive of TG Jones, said: "We welcome the court's approval of our restructuring plan. This decision allows us to move ahead with our turnaround strategy.

"The plan protects the substantial core of the store estate and makes TG Jones a stronger, more sustainable business.

"We are incredibly grateful to all the colleagues, partners and stakeholders who engaged constructively throughout the process, and to Modella Capital for its continued financial commitment.]"

Iconic UK pottery maker issues 'sad' update after plunging into administration

The historic pottery maker has been producing ceramics for more than two centuries

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Add us as preferred source Comments By Catherine Mackinlay, News Reporter 17:56, Wed, Jul 1, 2026 Updated: 18:00, Wed, Jul 1, 2026

Denby ceramics examples

The historic British pottery maker has issued an update following its collapse into administration (Image: Denby pottery)

An iconic UK pottery maker has issued a "sad" update - months after plunging into administration, marking the latest setback for the historic homeware brand. Denby Pottery has confirmed it is no longer accepting online orders through its website following the company's collapse into administration in March.

The announcement comes weeks after manufacturing ended at its historic Derbyshire site, where ceramics had been produced for more than two centuries. In a statement on its website, the company said: "It is with great sadness that, following Denby entering administration, our website is no longer accepting online orders. All orders that have already been placed will still be fulfilled, though we are experiencing longer wait times due to high demand. Our current lead time is 30-35 working days from the date of order. If you were hoping to add to your Denby collection, our outlet stores remain open, where you'll find savings of at least 50% across our ranges, while stocks last."

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The entrance to Denby Pottery in Derbyshire

The company became best known for its Imperial Blue collection (Image: Getty Images)

The company had previously described its website as Denby's online home, where it had shared not only its Made in England collections but also the craftsmanship, heritage and stories behind the brand while connecting with customers in the UK and around the world.

Its website will remain accessible for the time being while Denby continues to provide updates on its remaining retail operations.

Last month, the company launched a warehouse clearance after entering administration, offering shoppers discounts of up to 70% on selected kitchenware, including crockery, cutlery, table accessories and cast iron cookware.

At the time, Denby said it was offering "fantastic" savings across a variety of ranges

Founded in 1809 by William Bourne, Denby has operated from the same site in the Derbyshire village of Denby throughout its history and became renowned for its stoneware made using locally sourced Derbyshire clay.

The company became best known for its Imperial Blue collection, one of its most recognisable tableware ranges.

Overhead view of Denby Pottery factory

The announcement comes weeks after manufacturing ended at its historic Derbyshire site (Image: Getty Images)

In March, the business announced plans to enter administratration after facing what it described as enormous financial challenges.

Falling consumer demand, soaring energy costs, rising labour costs and tighter financial markets all contributed to the company's financial difficulties.

The collapse also prompted a petition calling on the Government to extend its British Industry Supercharger scheme to ceramics manufacturers, attracting almost 90,000 signatures from supporters.

Administrators at FRP Advisory later confirmed manufacturing would cease at the historic pottery company, bringing more than 217 years of continuous production to an end.

More than 120 employees ultimately lost their jobs following the closure of the Derbyshire factory, while FRP Advisory continues to seek a buyer for all or part of the business.

Despite the end of online sales, Denby's outlet stores remain open across the UK, with customers able to shop discounted stock at savings of at least 50% while supplies last.

Terence Crawford, Dave Allen, Matchroom Multi-Sport CEO Emily Frazer, On The Nose | The Ariel Helwani Show | July 1, 2026

Terence Crawford, Dave Allen, Matchroom Multi-Sport CEO Emily Frazer, On The Nose | The Ariel Helwani Show | July 1, 2026

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Join The Ariel Helwani Show live as Ariel and the Boys in the Back set the table for the rest of the week! Check out Wednesday's rundown below:

1 p.m. ET: Ariel and the Boys kick off the show by answering all your questions in the latest On The Nose.

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2 p.m. ET: Emily Frazer, CEO of Matchroom Multi-Sport, joins us in-studio.

3 p.m. ET: Dave Allen previews his return on Katie Taylor's Croke Park retirement card.

3:30 p.m. ET: The pound-for-pound king himself, Terence Crawford, joins the program.

Top Broncos of 2026 | No. 15: Riley Moss | The Contract-Year Challenge

We're ranking the Denver Broncos' top 25 players of 2026. Riley Moss is up next. Chad Jensen|

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Denver Broncos

No cornerback in the NFL was targeted more than Riley Moss was last season. His 114 targets led all cornerbacks.

There were a couple of reasons for that. 1.) Moss starts on the boundary opposite the best cornerback in football, Patrick Surtain II, so quarterbacks look his way a lot. 2.) Quarterbacks went after Moss with a higher expectation of drawing a big penalty than a big play.

Moss's 12 penalties were tied with two others for the most among NFL cornerbacks last season. However, Moss resolved to clean up his 'grabiness' during the Broncos' Week 12 bye, and he eliminated the penalties down the stretch. That lasted through Denver's playoff run.

Moss now enters a contract year with a lot on the line. As we continue counting down the top 25 Broncos of 2026, we arrive at our No. 15 player.

Let's break down why Moss ranks so high by rewinding to get a glimpse of his background and looking ahead at what his 2026 outlook might be.

Background

Moss starred at the University of Iowa. The Broncos traded up to draft him in the third round in 2023, making him one of the first selections of the Sean Payton regime.

Moss dealt with the lingering effects of a college injury as a rookie, but he still appeared in 14 games. Entering Year 2, though, he made his major play for a starting job, and he succeeded.

The Broncos rolled out Surtain and Moss as their starting boundary corners in 2024, and it immediately paid dividends for the defense. Moss proved he could hang, even though his penchant for the flag was an early hallmark of his game.

Moss's reliable presence also helped Surtain take a huge leap forward, resulting in him winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024. In Week 5 of that season, Moss picked off Gardner Minshew for his first career interception — something the NFL hadn't seen from a white cornerback since Jason Sehorn in 2002.

First career NFL interception for Riley Moss!!
And it comes in these absolute beauties of throwback unis for the ‘cos!
pic.twitter.com/CINsMLWXl7
— Owen Siebring (@owensiebring) October 6, 2024

Moss did deal with an injury in 2024, missing three starts. All in, he started 14 of 17 games, finishing with 86 tackles (65 solo), a forced fumble, an interception, and eight passes defensed.

In 2025, Moss started all 17 games for the Broncos, again hitting the 80-tackle mark. His prolific production as a tackler showcases how present he is in run support. Moss handles his perimeter with authority.

Again, Moss was targeted 114 times, but he only allowed 65 receptions, according to Pro Football Focus. He was targeted a lot, but his completion percentage allowed was 57%, which was extremely low among NFL cornerbacks who saw high-volume action.

Moss broke up an eye-popping 19 passes in 2025. He also notched the second interception of his career.

In 2025, the Broncos' passing defense skyrocketed from its 19th ranking in the NFL the year prior to No. 7. Moss was a big reason for that. No NFL corner had a tougher remit than him, but he still answered the bell.

When Surtain was lost to a pectoral injury for three weeks, Moss rotated over to the No. 1 cornerback slot. The Broncos' defense didn't skip a beat; Moss is the real deal.

Outlook

Riley Moss. — Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss (21) celebrates a stunning one-point victory over the New York Giants as time expired. | Derek Regensburger / IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

The Broncos love Moss. He leads by example and his fiery attitude is infectious on that defense.

Moss is one of the NFL's best No. 2 cornerbacks. If he had hit the free-agent market this offseason, many projected he would have received offers in the $20 million-per-year range.

Considering the Broncos are paying Surtain top dollar at the position, it might be hard to justify another $20M-plus expenditure on Moss, but at the same time, this secondary has something special going on. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Broncos make short work of getting Moss extended not long after the veterans report for training camp on July 28.

Jahdae Barron is still waiting in the wings, though. And the Broncos drafted him in the first round for a reason. With Moss on the boundary and Ja'Quan McMillian in the slot, Barron struggled to get a snap in edgewise as a rookie.

During Surtain's aforementioned three-game absence, though, the Broncos split the No. 2 boundary corner role between Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine, with Moss at the No. 1 and McMillian in the slot, and the rookie more than held his own. The Broncos also used Barron as a tight end neutralizer at times, assigning him one-on-one coverage in critical situations to take away the position.

Moss enters Year 4 at 26 years old — just hitting his prime. The only fly in the ointment for him was the penalty issue, but after the bye last season, he significantly minimized that as a feature of his game.

The Broncos might want to wait and see whether the new leaf Moss turned over is permanent. Instead of extending him in August, perhaps the Broncos wait until their Week 10 bye to see what's what.

The Takeaway

Moss's heart is undeniable. In each of his two seasons as a starter, he's finished third on the team in tackles. It's rare for a boundary cornerback to have that much tackle production, but it comes from his selfless team-first attitude and his physical nose for football.

No cornerback can be perfect, but if Moss can prove that his penalty woes are a thing of the past and if he can also improve his ball production from a takeaway perspective, it'll be a no-brainer to re-sign him. It would mean that Barron would still have to bide his time, especially because McMillian is also entering a contract year, but the best players have to play — regardless of draft pedigree.

Bo Nix's extension is likely coming in 2027, and while the sticker-shock value of that projected deal would knock almost anyone's socks off, the bulk of the salary-cap ramifications would still be a couple of years out once he finishes his rookie contract, assuming the Broncos exercise the quarterback's fifth-year option next offseason.

That additional window could buy the Broncos time to continue investing around Nix, on both sides of the ball, and keep the championship window wide open. If that's the view from the top-level offices at Broncos HQ, Moss could be in store for an extension, especially if he's willing to approach negotiations from a team-friendly standpoint.

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Published 4 minutes ago

CHAD JENSEN

Chad Jensen is the Publisher of Denver Broncos On SI, the Founder of Mile High Huddle, and creator of the popular Mile High Huddle Podcast. Chad has been on the Denver Broncos beat since 2012 and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.

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