Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

[Kite159]

Even if a Jones store has a post office inside doesn't mean it's at risk of closure based on what happened in Basingstoke

 

[Uncle Buck]

If TG Jones started selling alcohol and cigarettes I think they would survive.

I am not keen on the above but I have had conversations with staff in two small corner/convenience stores and they both agree that without an alcohol licence they would not be open.

I agree a post office is also essential, it is one of those things you cannot do online (sending a parcel etc).

I come from a long line of grocers and newsagents and owned a couple of corner shops myself in the past, one licensed and one not. They were a great way to build up some capital quickly- which is probably why they are nowadays dominated by immigrants.

Your absolute reliable customers were smokers and newspaper readers. They came out rain or shine and then bought other goods. That has now gone. Far fewer people smoke and the newspaper trade is, sadly, almost dead. At the same time as the demand side has collapsed, the supply side has got worse. When you consider electricity, wages and rent, then calculate the amount you have to bring in to turn a profit, I cannot see how any “wee shops” can be viable.

The game changer is alcohol- the turnover from drink sales is high, the margins are decent, and they are a great draw. Other than the odd highly specific circumstances (eg being in an especially busy spot or next to multiple schools) a newsagent/convenience store is only viable with an alcohol licence and you would be off your head to open one without- which is what TG Jones has effectively done.

I was always told by my dad and grandpa to avoid the Post Office as it was a nuisance to operate, didn’t make much money on its own- it was only a “draw”- and gave others cause to interfere in your business. I am very glad of that advice when I see what happened to so many innocent sub-postmasters! But I can see that a Post Office might make a business viable- here in the West End of Glasgow, one Post Office is in a very attractive, modern stationery-cum-gift shop which is often queued out the door, and a friend operates a busy one in another part of the city. I would guess that the decline of bricks-and-mortar banking, and the increase in delivered consumption, have actually increased the appeal of the Post Office.

Although in a way the decline of independent shops makes me wistful, the problem is the inconsistency of standards. One independent shop can be well-stocked with a decent range of high-quality goods and attractively laid out. Another, even under the same symbol group, can be tatty with weird products on bare shelves. With Tesco or Sainsbury’s you know what you are getting and it is pretty good.

Incidentally, I hear that one thing that immigrants to this country notice about it is the lack of “wee shops”. That must be a fairly recent phenomenon.

To relate back to TG Jones, I would argue that the only way to survive would be to just accept that they are a convenience retailer and attempt to compete with the supermarkets on that ground. To try to be a newsagent in this day and age is living in the past.

 

[Andyh82]

Even if a Jones store has a post office inside doesn't mean it's at risk of closure based on what happened in Basingstoke

The TG Jones stores in both Bradford and Wakefield had Post Offices and both have closed in the past year.

The one in Bradford was already closing before the takeover, although they still rebranded it. I’m not sure what the story was behind the closure in Wakefield.

Both were new stores opened in the last 10 years or so, in modern shopping centres, so possibly the rents were too high. They aren’t the only store to have closed in Bradford.

 

[Backroom_boy]

I come from a long line of grocers and newsagents and owned a couple of corner shops myself in the past, one licensed and one not. They were a great way to build up some capital quickly- which is probably why they are nowadays dominated by immigrants.

Your absolute reliable customers were smokers and newspaper readers. They came out rain or shine and then bought other goods. That has now gone. Far fewer people smoke and the newspaper trade is, sadly, almost dead. At the same time as the demand side has collapsed, the supply side has got worse. When you consider electricity, wages and rent, then calculate the amount you have to bring in to turn a profit, I cannot see how any “wee shops” can be viable.

The game changer is alcohol- the turnover from drink sales is high, the margins are decent, and they are a great draw. Other than the odd highly specific circumstances (eg being in an especially busy spot or next to multiple schools) a newsagent/convenience store is only viable with an alcohol licence and you would be off your head to open one without- which is what TG Jones has effectively done.

I was always told by my dad and grandpa to avoid the Post Office as it was a nuisance to operate, didn’t make much money on its own- it was only a “draw”- and gave others cause to interfere in your business. I am very glad of that advice when I see what happened to so many innocent sub-postmasters! But I can see that a Post Office might make a business viable- here in the West End of Glasgow, one Post Office is in a very attractive, modern stationery-cum-gift shop which is often queued out the door, and a friend operates a busy one in another part of the city. I would guess that the decline of bricks-and-mortar banking, and the increase in delivered consumption, have actually increased the appeal of the Post Office.

Although in a way the decline of independent shops makes me wistful, the problem is the inconsistency of standards. One independent shop can be well-stocked with a decent range of high-quality goods and attractively laid out. Another, even under the same symbol group, can be tatty with weird products on bare shelves. With Tesco or Sainsbury’s you know what you are getting and it is pretty good.

Incidentally, I hear that one thing that immigrants to this country notice about it is the lack of “wee shops”. That must be a fairly recent phenomenon.

To relate back to TG Jones, I would argue that the only way to survive would be to just accept that they are a convenience retailer and attempt to compete with the supermarkets on that ground. To try to be a newsagent in this day and age is living in the past.

Really good post.

TG Jones is really Rymans with magazines, books and chocolate these days. Magazines are dying off, no serious book buyer make it their first choice destination, chocolate and sweets are better catered for elsewhere (And why are there still so many Rymans anyway?) Interestingly all the travel WH Smiths I've been to recently seem to have a booze licence (and cigarettes?) so that might be a way to go but can't see it stopping Modella closing at least a quarter of all remaining stores come July.

 

[Ianigsy]

I bought a 2026 desk diary from TG Jones in Leeds the other week and it was copyrighted to W H Smith in 2024 so there’s evidently been a lot of unsold stock in the deal.

Magazines nowadays aren’t competitively priced - as part of tidying up my late mother’s affairs, we’re trying to get to the bottom of her Radio Times subscription where the one-off cover price is £5.50 for information which the weekend papers include in a supplement for a fraction of the price. If you take more than a couple and a newspaper, something like Apple Newsstand is much better value.

 

[Jimini]

Really good post.

Agreed.

To try to be a newsagent in this day and age is living in the past.

This is so true. As someone who's worked in UK national print media in the past, the inevitable decline is far more pronounced than forecast. The simple fact that Newsprinters are about to take on the (Reach PLC's) Watford portfolio in the coming months speaks volumes about the category's decline. And this comes just a couple of years after the Mail closed their Thurrock print site and moved to Newsprinters as well. Three major hubs down to one.

The concept of one single newspaper print hub in the south even just a few years ago was unthinkable. Yet here we are.

More info here:

Reach brings an end to historic Watford print operation

The plan includes the closure of the historic Watford print plant, that was once the largest print plant in the world

www.printmonthly.co.uk

Reach, a commercial news publisher for the UK and Ireland, has announced it will be consolidating its print operations in order to improve cash generation and save on costs. The news means the closure of print sites in Saltire and Watford this year.

With brands like the Mirror, Express, Daily Star, Manchester Evening News, and BelfastLive, Reach is one of the largest news organisations in the UK.

In September 2025, Reach announced it was cutting hundreds of journalism jobs in a bid to create more video content and share content across its various titles. 321 redundancies were announced with 135 new roles created at the end of last year on top of 100 potential redundancies announced in July. Reports from the likes of the BBC cite AI and shared resources as reasons for the changes.

The latest plans from Reach would mean the work done by the Saltire print site in Scotland would be moved to Reach’s Oldham site later this spring, with a smaller portion of work going to DC Thomson’s facility in Dundee. DC Thomson is a media company that publishes the likes of The Evening Telegraph, The Sunday Post, and The Beano and Dandy comics.

The work undertaken by the Watford site is planned to move operations to Broxbourne via a commercial outsourcing agreement. Reach says a thorough consultation process with all impacted employees of both sites has begun. The proposals could affect around 247 jobs across both print sites.

The Watford site is said to employ around 150 people with the BBC understanding that some staff may be redeployed to Broxbourne.

The change has been highlighted as ending a long history of printing in Watford which has industry roots as far back as the early 19th century. It was even estimated that one in every 13 people in the town were involved in print, making it the largest print centre in the world between the 1920s and 1960s.

Unite the Union, which is involved in the consultation process, says the decision is “nonsensical” due to most of Reach’s revenue stemming from its printed publications.

Chief executive of Reach, Piers North, says: “Print remains an important part of our business, and will continue to drive considerable circulation revenue, but our future is firmly rooted in digital. This consolidation is a proactive and strategic move, positioning our business for long-term success.

“By refining our print operations, we can focus our attention on content and audiences – the core driver of our business – and accelerate our digital growth opportunities such as our digital subscriptions offering.”

 

[317 forever]

The various markets are still there (and, what’s more) - it’s just that Smith’s /Jones’ (Alas!) don’t serve any of them particularly well - about their only USP (or rather UnonSP) is being a fairly shoddy collection of over priced stuff that doesn’t actually include what you’re looking for.

I only use WH Smiths or TG Jones to buy transport magazines at a time of my choice, rather than risk them being delayed in the post. I see little point in them any more otherwise.

 

[TheSmiths82]

As mentioned previously I think the Lounge group of pubs might get into some serious trouble. They have just opened one in Stretford, that means you on I know of at least 6 in an 8 mile radius and there will be ones I don't know about in south Manchester too. I actually like them but I am not sure there is enough demand in every town for them to be supported.

Altrincham
Sale
Stretford
Chorlton
Didsbury
Cheadle
Also in the area:
Stockport
Urmston
Rusholme

There are more Lounges in Wetherspoons in this area and I there has to be a point where they just compete with themselves. I think Wetherspoons have realised that they are just competing with themselves in smaller cities as they are closing branches where they have two more pubs in the same town.

 

[Trackman]

Agreed, can't see it going well.

These days he's great at the whole TV programme and book for affordable hearty recipes thing.

But he's never been a "top" chef, in that he's never earned a Michelin Star, but he charges premium prices for average food.

Well, I never. Just googled it.
I thought to be a 'proper' chef you had to be trained in classical dishes, not just French dishes.
Some gastropub chefs have Michelin stars.

 

[D6130]

Well, I never. Just googled it.
I thought to be a 'proper' chef you had to be trained in classical dishes, not just French dishes.
Some gastropub chefs have Michelin stars.

No....classic Italian cuisine is far superior to classic French cuisine IMHO. But then I would say that, wouldn't I?

 

[Harpo]

I only use WH Smiths or TG Jones to buy transport magazines at a time of my choice, rather than risk them being delayed in the post. I see little point in them any more otherwise.

I wonder if there’s a perfect storm brewing for some publishers? With postal services now fatally unreliable and the possibility of TG Jones shedding stores, both of the regular sales outlets for niche titles are looking shaky.

 

[Backroom_boy]

I wonder if there’s a perfect storm brewing for some publishers? With postal services now fatally unreliable and the possibility of TG Jones shedding stores, both of the regular sales outlets for niche titles are looking shaky.

Yes. Definitely. I've several friends in magazine publishing (not transport) and they are all a bit worried. Their main focus these days are 'bookazines' - longer articles, less topicality, more re-readability, higher page count but less frequency. Fast changing news is for the Internet.

Btw am amazed RAIL is still fortnightly but I guess they know their market.

 

[Kite159]

Yes. Definitely. I've several friends in magazine publishing (not transport) and they are all a bit worried. Their main focus these days are 'bookazines' - longer articles, less topicality, more re-readability, higher page count but less frequency. Fast changing news is for the Internet.

Btw am amazed RAIL is still fortnightly but I guess they know their market.

I would agree there with news being more suited for the internet. Similar to newspapers which is "Yesterday's News Today!". Although magazine articles can go more in depth with news related topics rather than being more short formed for the internet audidence

 

[Trackman]

As mentioned previously I think the Lounge group of pubs might get into some serious trouble. They have just opened one in Stretford, that means you on I know of at least 6 in an 8 mile radius and there will be ones I don't know about in south Manchester too. I actually like them but I am not sure there is enough demand in every town for them to be supported.

Altrincham
Sale
Stretford
Chorlton
Didsbury
Cheadle
Also in the area:
Stockport
Urmston
Rusholme

There are more Lounges in Wetherspoons in this area and I there has to be a point where they just compete with themselves. I think Wetherspoons have realised that they are just competing with themselves in smaller cities as they are closing branches where they have two more pubs in the same town.

Are these the cafe-bars?, what names do they go under or is it just called the 'Lounge' I might be confusing it with something else.

 

[TheSmiths82]

Are these the cafe-bars?, what names do they go under or is it just called the 'Lounge' I might be confusing it with something else.

They are cafe bars but some of them operating more as quiet pubs. My local one has quizzes and arts evenings etc. They are usually always called something Lounge but each one has a unique name. My local one took over a closed down B&M and it looks very smart even though it has been there for several years now. I rarely go into my local one as it is too much family oriented to go for for a pint but I would hate to see it go.

https://thelounges.co.uk/locations/

 

[35B]

As mentioned previously I think the Lounge group of pubs might get into some serious trouble. They have just opened one in Stretford, that means you on I know of at least 6 in an 8 mile radius and there will be ones I don't know about in south Manchester too. I actually like them but I am not sure there is enough demand in every town for them to be supported.

There are more Lounges in Wetherspoons in this area and I there has to be a point where they just compete with themselves. I think Wetherspoons have realised that they are just competing with themselves in smaller cities as they are closing branches where they have two more pubs in the same town.

There's always a risk of over-expansion, but my observations are that they're expanding carefully and to where there's a good cafe/pub market overlap. They're in a different market to Wetherspoons, and the two complement each other well

 

[Jamesrob637]

There's always a risk of over-expansion, but my observations are that they're expanding carefully and to where there's a good cafe/pub market overlap. They're in a different market to Wetherspoons, and the two complement each other well

Agreed. I've eaten in both and generally been impressed. Both good value for money.

 

[SuspectUsual]

They are cafe bars but some of them operating more as quiet pubs. My local one has quizzes and arts evenings etc. They are usually always called something Lounge but each one has a unique name. My local one took over a closed down B&M and it looks very smart even though it has been there for several years now. I rarely go into my local one as it is too much family oriented to go for for a pint but I would hate to see it go.

https://thelounges.co.uk/locations/

I had no idea there were so many of these places! But the ones I've been in local to us (Northallerton, Ripon, Whitby and Richmond) have been decent and the service has been good

 

[AndrewE]

I looked at the one (thelounges.co.uk) near me and the CAMRA website says

you will be charged for entrance at all times... Although no cask ale is available...

so I shan't be bothering!

 

[Brightonboy]

Been thinking about the Premier Inn changes.

For various reasons, we stay in hotels 1 or 2 nights at a time on about 10 nights a year in a triangle drawn London - Southampton - Folkestone - London and usually opt for Premier Inn. We have used both those with attached pub/restaurant establishments and those with an internal 'dining room'. Without question, we prefer the former to the latter and, all else being equal, would always opt for those with attached facilities. The food offering is generally bigger and more varied, the ambience is better with more variety of surroundings, and the staff generally more welcoming and professional. We have also observed (as we did just 2 mornings ago) groups of locals using the facilities for 'team' breakfasts and family gatherings.

Our local Premier Inn/Beefeater combo was a pub/restaurant long before Premier Inn arrived and the restaurant is still seen by locals (certainly of my boomer generation) as a place to go for a meal with a group of friends; I can't see an internal Premier Inn restaurant generating that trade (if they even want it).

All in all, I see the forthcoming changes to Premier Inn's food offering as being detrimental overall to the business; alienating existing customers and doing little to encourage new ones.

 

[jon0844]

I haven't stayed at a Premier Inn since they announced the closures of many connected restaurants. I used to book around Premier Inn availability but now I've tried alternatives and feel the experience is only going to go downhill.

Obviously I can't be sure as I'm not booking but I don't feel the desire to try them out again when I think they're making decisions that are detrimental to customers.

 

[35B]

I looked at the one (thelounges.co.uk) near me and the CAMRA website says

so I shan't be bothering!

I wouldn't go to one if I wanted a good pint. But I've been there many times for coffee, or a light meal, or to meet friends. I even spent 90 minutes there during my daughter's 11+, with other nervous parents.

I walk past the local one, and see a wide range of customers, from teenagers upwards - they're a good licensed family friendly place to socialise. And if that's not what I want, then I go elsewhere!

 

[BuhSnarf]

I looked at the one (thelounges.co.uk) near me and the CAMRA website says

so I shan't be bothering!

I don't think I've ever been charged for entering..?

 

[stadler]

I am surprised that Beefeater and Brewers Fayre lasted this long. Premier Inn sold their Costa Coffee chain a couple of years ago and that is surely a much more profitable business. Costa Coffee has hundreds and hundreds of branches and has dozens of airport and service station and railway station and hospital branches. So i would have thought that Beefeater and Brewers Fayre would have been shut down or sold long before Costa Coffee but it was the other way round.

 

[simonw]

I am surprised that Beefeater and Brewers Fayre lasted this long. Premier Inn sold their Costa Coffee chain a couple of years ago and that is surely a much more profitable business. Costa Coffee has hundreds and hundreds of branches and has dozens of airport and service station and railway station and hospital branches. So i would have thought that Beefeater and Brewers Fayre would have been shut down or sold long before Costa Coffee but it was the other way round.

Sold to Coca-Cola who seem to think they overpaid, so I guess Whitbread were pleased to sell.

 

[Djgr]

Been thinking about the Premier Inn changes.

For various reasons, we stay in hotels 1 or 2 nights at a time on about 10 nights a year in a triangle drawn London - Southampton - Folkestone - London and usually opt for Premier Inn. We have used both those with attached pub/restaurant establishments and those with an internal 'dining room'. Without question, we prefer the former to the latter and, all else being equal, would always opt for those with attached facilities. The food offering is generally bigger and more varied, the ambience is better with more variety of surroundings, and the staff generally more welcoming and professional. We have also observed (as we did just 2 mornings ago) groups of locals using the facilities for 'team' breakfasts and family gatherings.

Our local Premier Inn/Beefeater combo was a pub/restaurant long before Premier Inn arrived and the restaurant is still seen by locals (certainly of my boomer generation) as a place to go for a meal with a group of friends; I can't see an internal Premier Inn restaurant generating that trade (if they even want it).

All in all, I see the forthcoming changes to Premier Inn's food offering as being detrimental overall to the business; alienating existing customers and doing little to encourage new ones.

On the face of it, it's an approach that appears obviously crazy.

The level of stupidity reminds me of the idea John Lewis had a few years back, where 50% of their profits were going to come from residential housing deveopment. The actual achieved figure appears to be around 0%.

 

[cactustwirly]

I am surprised that Beefeater and Brewers Fayre lasted this long. Premier Inn sold their Costa Coffee chain a couple of years ago and that is surely a much more profitable business. Costa Coffee has hundreds and hundreds of branches and has dozens of airport and service station and railway station and hospital branches. So i would have thought that Beefeater and Brewers Fayre would have been shut down or sold long before Costa Coffee but it was the other way round.

The Beafeater in Reading looks like it could be a nice pub, has a nice garden etc. It is currently for sale so I'm hoping someone takes it on.
It's a standalone one, not attached to a premier inn.

The only time I have been to a Beefeater the service was very bad and it's wasn't the best place either

 

[Brightonboy]

Our local Beefeater (as noted above) is still fine, no problems with the customer facing infrastructure and the staff are generally pretty good. Last time I used the one in Dunstable, however, a couple of years back it was noticeably less busy than it the used to be and there were 'gaps' in the menu - no Orange Juice available, for example. With a large Tesco immediately opposite there should be a mechanism to allow staff to avoid shortages of such staples.

 

[ChrisC]

Our local Beefeater (as noted above) is still fine, no problems with the customer facing infrastructure and the staff are generally pretty good. Last time I used the one in Dunstable, however, a couple of years back it was noticeably less busy than it the used to be and there were 'gaps' in the menu - no Orange Juice available, for example. With a large Tesco immediately opposite there should be a mechanism to allow staff to avoid shortages of such staples.

They wouldn’t be allowed to get orange juice from Tesco!
A few years ago I stayed at a Travelodge where they ran out of bacon during a bank holiday weekend and there was no bacon available at breakfast on two mornings. This Travelodge had a Waitrose as part of the building on the ground floor, a Tesco opposite and a Sainsbury’s just around the corner.

 

[Harpo]

Last time I used the one in Dunstable, however, a couple of years back it was noticeably less busy than it the used to be and there were 'gaps' in the menu - no Orange Juice available, for example. With a large Tesco immediately opposite there should be a mechanism to allow staff to avoid shortages of such staples.

Many hotels seem to be inable to function outside of their supply chains. A McDonalds hotel in Frimley was unable to give me the jacket potato that was advertised with a meal. When a hotel cannot provide a potato, all hope is lost.