More than a third of post offices in TG Jones stores to close by early 2027

Union warns of 'postal deserts' as 70 branches shut in high street chain's restructuring

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published24 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources2 outlets

More than a third of post offices located within the TG Jones high street chain, formerly known as WH Smith, are set to close by early 2027, according to Post Office records analysed by the Guardian. The closures have sparked warnings from the Communication Workers Union (CWU) that towns and city centres risk becoming 'postal deserts' as the network shrinks.

So far this year 36 post offices in TG Jones stores have closed, with a further 34 scheduled to shut by early 2027, the Guardian reports. TG Jones, which was bought and renamed by the private equity group Modella last year, operated 180 post offices before a restructuring plan won creditor approval in July. Up to 150 of the 450 stores acquired by Modella are expected to close in total, about 65 of which have already shut and at least another 46 are to cease operating early next year. Of the 110 announced closures, 70 contain post offices.

The branch closures follow an announcement in the summer that 52 post offices will close within Morrisons Daily convenience stores this year, some near to TG Jones sites, as part of a wider plan by Morrisons to close 100 loss-making small stores.

The wave of closures means towns such as Stevenage, Bracknell, and Orpington, as well as smaller cities including Hull and York, are each losing two post offices within months. Telford's last remaining post office is due to close in January. The majority of these lost sites replaced former crown post offices, the now almost entirely closed network of more than 100 directly operated large branches that offered identity and passport checks, driving licence and banking services.

Some regions have been particularly hard hit: six post offices in TG Jones stores are closing in Essex, five in the West Midlands and four in Wales. The Post Office is trying to find new operators but so far only Stirling has reopened after a TG Jones closure, with a permanent replacement for Ipswich set to open in November. Temporary branches are to operate after closures in Maidenhead and Uxbridge.

The Post Office has told a parliamentary inquiry that almost a third of small- and medium-sized businesses use their local branch at least once a week, and more than half use the network at least once a month. The loss of post office access threatens the viability of many small firms within months, according to the inquiry evidence. After the closure of more than 6,800 bank branches across the UK, the Post Office 'plays a critical role in protecting this essential service,' the state-owned company said.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The closures could leave communities without vital access to postal and banking services, particularly as bank branches continue to disappear.
Many small businesses rely on post offices for daily operations; losing this access threatens their viability.
The reduction in the network raises broader questions about the sustainability of high street services under private equity ownership.

Background

TG Jones was formerly WH Smith, a long-established UK high street retailer. Modella, a private equity group, acquired the chain last year and launched a restructuring that has led to widespread store closures. The Post Office, still recovering from the Horizon IT scandal, has been reducing its directly operated crown branches for years, replacing them with franchises in retail stores. The latest closures compound this trend, with the Post Office now scrambling to find new operators in affected locations.

Key Perspectives

CWU (Communication Workers Union): Senior union member Mole Meade said the closures would leave some areas as 'postal deserts' and represent 'the continuation of a long-term strategy of cutting costs and chasing profit, with little regard for the communities that depend on post office services.' The union believes the Post Office should focus on protecting and expanding access, not presiding over a continued reduction of the network.

Post Office: The state-owned company said it recognises the challenging trading conditions that TG Jones and other high street retailers face. It proactively sought expressions of interest from postmasters and partners to take on post offices that may close. 'There is interest in taking on every location where it has been confirmed that a post office within a TG Jones store will close. In some locations there are over 40 applications from our postmasters who recognise the significant footfall operating a post office brings to their store.' The Post Office said it is committed to replacing every branch that closes and is working to progress applications as quickly as possible.

What to Watch

Whether the Post Office can secure new operators for all 70 affected locations, given that only Stirling has reopened so far.
The impact on banking hubs: the Post Office already runs 250 such hubs, and more may be needed as post offices disappear.
Further waves of closures from Morrisons and other retailers, which could deepen the impact on communities.

Sources

More than third of post offices in TG Jones stores to shut by early 2027 · The Guardian
More than third of post offices in TG Jones stores to shut by early 2027 · The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

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SupportedMore than a third of post offices in TG Jones stores are set to close by early 2027.UK news | The Guardian: “More than third of post offices in TG Jones stores to shut by early 2027.”
SupportedThe CWU warns of “postal deserts” as post offices close.UK news | The Guardian: “Mole Meade, a senior member at the CWU, the largest union for postal workers, said the closures would leave some areas as “postal deserts”.”
Partly supportedThe summary says 70 branches have shut.UK news | The Guardian: “This total of 110 announced closures include the 70 containing post offices.”
Partly supportedThe closures have prompted the CWU to warn that towns and city centres risk becoming postal deserts.UK news | The Guardian: “Mole Meade, a senior member at the CWU, the largest union for postal workers, said the closures would leave some areas as “postal deserts”.”
SupportedThirty-six TG Jones post offices have closed this year, and 34 more are set to close by early 2027.UK news | The Guardian: “So far this year 36 branches within the high street chain formerly known as WH Smith have closed and a further 34 are set to close by early 2027, according to Post Office records analysed by the Guardian.”
SupportedTG Jones was bought and renamed by Modella last year.UK news | The Guardian: “TG Jones was bought and renamed by Modella last year.”
SupportedBefore creditors approved the restructuring plan in July, the chain operated 180 post offices.UK news | The Guardian: “Before the private equity group’s restructure won approval from creditors in July , the chain operated 180 post offices”
SupportedUp to 150 of the 450 stores acquired by Modella are expected to close; about 65 have closed and at least 46 more are to cease operating early next year.UK news | The Guardian: “Up to 150 of the 450 stores acquired by Modella are expected to shut, about 65 of which have already closed and at least another 46 are to cease operating early next year.”
SupportedOf 110 announced closures, 70 contain post offices.UK news | The Guardian: “This total of 110 announced closures include the 70 containing post offices.”
SupportedTelford’s last remaining post office is due to close in January.UK news | The Guardian: “Telford’s last one is due to close in January.”
Partly supportedThe loss of post office access threatens the viability of many small firms within months, according to inquiry evidence.UK news | The Guardian: “Many small businesses report that losing this access would threaten their viability within months.”
SupportedAfter more than 6,800 UK bank branch closures, the Post Office said it “plays a critical role in protecting this essential service”.UK news | The Guardian: “After the closure of more than 6,800 bank branches across the UK, the Post Office “plays a critical role in protecting this essential service”, according to thetstate-owned company’s evidence to the inquiry.”