Hobbycraft Stores Closing: Is the Arts and Crafts Chain Shutting Down?

Last updated: 7 July 2026

Yes, some Hobbycraft stores are closing, and several UK branches are already listed as closed. However, Hobbycraft is not confirmed to be shutting down completely.

The most accurate way to explain the situation is that Hobbycraft has closed selected stores as part of a restructuring and strategic review, while the wider arts and crafts chain continues to trade through other branches and online.

Hobbycraft’s own store-status page says that, following a strategic review of the business, some stores have closed and the listed branches are now closed.

The official list includes stores such as Bagshot, Basildon, Borehamwood, Bristol Imperial, Bromborough, Canterbury, Chichester, Cirencester, Crayford, Dunstable, Epping Forest, Kings Lynn, Lakeside, Maidenhead, Southport, Stafford, Stratford Upon Avon and Wigan.

So, when people search for hobbycraft stores closing, Hobbycraft stores closing down, or is Hobbycraft shutting down, the answer needs a clear distinction: some Hobbycraft branches have closed, but the whole company has not been confirmed as closing down.

Key Takeaways:

• Hobbycraft stores are closing in selected UK locations.
• Hobbycraft is not confirmed to be closing down completely.
• The closures are linked to a restructuring plan and store estate review.
• The official Hobbycraft store-status page lists several branches as now closed.
• Some 2025 closures were linked to rent negotiations and wider retail pressures.
• Hobbycraft’s website still shows online shopping, delivery, click and collect, store links and customer help pages.
• Shoppers should check official store information before travelling to a local branch.

What Is the Latest Confirmed Position on Hobbycraft Stores Closing?

The latest confirmed position is that Hobbycraft has closed selected stores, not the whole business. The official closure list currently shows 18 closed stores, while retail reports explain that the closures formed part of a restructuring plan after earlier rounds of store review.

This means searches for “Hobbycraft stores closing” should be answered carefully: the issue is selected branch closures, not a confirmed full shutdown of the arts and crafts chain.

Customers should still check the official store locator before travelling, because local store information can change faster than older news reports.

Is Hobbycraft Closing Down Completely?

No. Based on the current confirmed information, Hobbycraft is not closing down completely. Reports and official updates point to selected Hobbycraft store closures, not a full shutdown of the arts and crafts retailer.

Sky News reported in April 2025 that Hobbycraft’s owner, Modella Capital, was preparing a Company Voluntary Arrangement, with at least nine shops planned for closure and other stores linked to rent talks with landlords.

The same report said a further 97 stores would remain unaffected by the CVA, according to people close to the proposals.

Why Are People Searching for Hobbycraft Stores Closing?

People are searching for Hobbycraft stores closing because the chain had more than one round of closure news in 2025.

Earlier closures affected branches such as Bagshot, Basildon, Borehamwood, Bristol Imperial, Canterbury, Cirencester, Dunstable, Epping Forest and Lakeside.

A later round included Bromborough, Southport and Stratford-upon-Avon in August 2025, followed by Chichester, Crayford, King’s Lynn, Maidenhead, Stafford and Wigan in September 2025.

That has caused confusion for shoppers. A local Hobbycraft closing-down sign can make people think the whole chain is closing, but the confirmed information points to selected branch closures rather than a full company shutdown.

What Does the Hobbycraft Store Closures News Mean?

The Hobbycraft store closures news means that the retailer has reviewed its store estate and closed selected branches. It does not automatically mean that every Hobbycraft shop is closing, and it does not mean shoppers can no longer buy from Hobbycraft at all.

For customers, the main issue is local availability. If a nearby branch has closed, people who rely on Hobbycraft for knitting supplies, art materials, papercraft, sewing products, baking decorations, children’s craft kits or seasonal decorations may need to use another branch or shop online.

For the business, the closures form part of a wider restructuring process. In retail, this often means a company is trying to reduce costs, renegotiate rents, remove underperforming sites, and protect stronger parts of the business.

What is a Strategic Review?

A strategic review is when a business looks closely at how it operates and decides what needs to change. For a retailer such as Hobbycraft, that can include reviewing:

• which stores are profitable;
• which leases or rents are sustainable;
• where customers are shopping;
• how online sales affect store demand;
• staffing and operating costs;
• Whether certain locations still fit the business plan.

A strategic review does not always lead to closures, but it can do if some locations are no longer considered viable. In Hobbycraft’s case, the official store-status page directly links the closures to a strategic review of the business.

What is a CVA in Retail Restructuring?

A Company Voluntary Arrangement, or CVA, is a formal insolvency process that can allow a limited company to repay creditors over an agreed period while continuing to trade if creditors approve the arrangement.

In retail, a CVA is often used to deal with debts, rent pressure, lease terms and store estate costs.

For Hobbycraft, retail reports linked the closure plan to restructuring under Modella Capital, which bought the arts and crafts retailer in August 2024.

This helps explain why the story is not simply about one shop closing, but about a wider review of costs, leases and store performance.

This is informational only and is not financial, legal or insolvency advice.

Which Hobbycraft Stores Have Closed?

Hobbycraft’s official store-status page lists the branches below as closed following a strategic review of the business. The list should be treated as the main confirmed source because it comes directly from Hobbycraft.

The official list confirms the affected branches, while retail reports give extra context on the August and September 2025 closure timings. Before travelling, shoppers should check Hobbycraft’s own store information because local availability may change.

Why May the Hobbycraft Closures List Change?

Store closure information can change over time. Some articles reported planned closures before every final date had passed, while Hobbycraft’s own store-status page shows the branches that are now listed as closed.

For example, Time Out reported in August 2025 that Bromborough, Stratford-upon-Avon and Southport were closing in August, with Stafford, Wigan, Maidenhead, King’s Lynn, Chichester and Crayford listed for September.

The Retail Bulletin also reported that three of those sites had already closed in August, with six more due to shut in September.

Because retail situations can move quickly, the best approach is to check the official Hobbycraft store-status page or store locator before making a journey.

Why Are Hobbycraft Stores Closing?

Hobbycraft stores are closing because the company has been going through a restructuring process. The closures are linked to a review of the business, store performance, rent discussions and wider pressures facing UK retailers.

This does not mean every closed store failed for the same reason. In a restructuring, several factors can overlap. One store might be affected by rent costs, another by sales performance, and another by the wider plan to reshape the business.

Retail Restructuring and Store Performance

Retail restructuring usually means a company is trying to make the business more stable. That can involve closing loss-making branches, reducing costs, changing lease arrangements, or focusing investment on stores that are expected to perform better in the long term.

Retail Gazette reported in April 2025 that Hobbycraft said the store closures and restructure were intended to help secure the future of at least 99 stores and 1,800 jobs across the business. It also listed the first nine impacted stores expected to stop trading by mid-July.

This is why it is important not to frame the story as simply “Hobbycraft closing down”. The more accurate wording is that Hobbycraft stores are closing in selected locations as part of restructuring.

Rent Negotiations With Landlords

Rent appears to be a major part of the story. Sky News reported that 18 more Hobbycraft stores would remain open only if negotiations with landlords over rent cuts were successful. The Retail Bulletin later reported that Hobbycraft was in talks with landlords as it sought rent reductions for several other sites.

This matters because store rent can make a big difference to whether a branch is financially sustainable. Even a popular shop may become difficult to keep open if the overall costs of running that location are too high.

Wider UK High Street Pressures

The Hobbycraft store closures also sit within a wider pattern of pressure on UK high street and retail park chains. Retailers have faced rising operating costs, changing customer habits, wage pressures, energy costs, business rates concerns and competition from online shopping.

For an arts and crafts retailer, physical stores still matter because customers often want to see colours, textures, materials, fabrics, yarns and craft tools in person. At the same time, more shoppers now compare prices online, order craft supplies for delivery, or use click and collect when available.

That mix can make store estate planning more complicated. A retailer may still have a loyal customer base but need fewer stores, different locations, or renegotiated property costs.

Is Hobbycraft Still Trading Online?

Yes, Hobbycraft still has an active UK website. The Hobbycraft website displays product categories, delivery information, click and collect messaging, a store link, customer help pages, returns information and gift card links. Its homepage also shows delivery and click and collect messages, including free delivery and free click and collect thresholds.

This is another reason the phrase Hobbycraft closing down needs context. A local branch closing is not the same as Hobbycraft’s online shop disappearing.

Can Customers Still Shop From Hobbycraft?

Customers can still browse Hobbycraft online, although availability, delivery options and collection options may depend on stock, location and current website terms. Hobbycraft’s website includes categories such as art supplies, sewing, craft essentials, papercraft, baking and kitchen, knitting and crochet, hobbies and games, and party supplies.

If a local Hobbycraft store has closed, online shopping may be the simplest option for some customers. However, shoppers should always check the official website for the latest delivery, return, gift card and click and collect details.

What Should Shoppers Check Before Ordering?

Before placing an order, I would check the current information directly on Hobbycraft’s website, especially if the order involves a gift card, click and collect, a return, a time-sensitive craft project or a large purchase.

Important areas to check include:

• delivery options and charges;
• click and collect availability;
• whether the chosen branch is still open;
• return timeframes;
• gift card terms;
• customer service updates;
• stock availability.

Hobbycraft’s site footer includes links to delivery, returns, FAQs, contact information, gift cards and store information, which are useful places to check before ordering.

Are More Hobbycraft Stores at Risk?

More Hobbycraft stores should only be treated as at risk if Hobbycraft confirms further closures or reliable reports identify new affected branches.

At present, the confirmed official list shows selected stores that have already closed, while earlier retail reporting said Hobbycraft had not confirmed whether any further stores were at risk of shutting for good.

That distinction is important for search accuracy. It would be misleading to say Hobbycraft is closing all stores unless the company confirms a full shutdown. The safer wording is that some Hobbycraft stores have closed as part of restructuring, while the chain continues to trade elsewhere.

What Is Confirmed and What Is Not Confirmed?

Why Do Store Closure Rumours Spread Quickly?

Retail closure rumours spread quickly because people often see a local sign, a closing down sale, or a social media post before they see the full business context.

A single store closure can quickly become “Hobbycraft is closing down” online. That is why articles about which Hobbycraft stores are closing need to be specific, cautious and based on confirmed lists.

Hobbycraft Store Closures Timeline

Conclusion: Is Hobbycraft Shutting Down or Just Closing Some Stores?

Hobbycraft is closing selected stores, but the current confirmed information does not show that the entire arts and crafts chain is shutting down.

The most accurate summary is that Hobbycraft stores are closing in some UK locations after a strategic review and restructuring process, while the wider business continues to trade elsewhere and online.

Shoppers should check Hobbycraft’s official store information before travelling, especially if their nearest branch has been affected.

FAQs

Is Hobbycraft closing down completely?

No, Hobbycraft is not confirmed to be closing down completely. The confirmed information shows selected Hobbycraft store closures, not a full shutdown of the arts and crafts chain.

Why are Hobbycraft stores closing?

Hobbycraft stores are closing because the business has been going through restructuring and a strategic review. Reports also link the process to rent negotiations, store performance and wider retail pressures.

Which Hobbycraft stores have closed?

Hobbycraft’s official store-status page lists Bagshot, Basildon, Borehamwood, Bristol Imperial, Bromborough, Canterbury, Chichester, Cirencester, Crayford, Dunstable, Epping Forest, Kings Lynn, Lakeside, Maidenhead, Southport, Stafford, Stratford Upon Avon and Wigan as closed.

Is my local Hobbycraft still open?

Your local Hobbycraft may still be open unless it appears on the confirmed closure list or is marked closed on the official store locator. I would check Hobbycraft’s own website before travelling.

Can I still order from Hobbycraft online?

Yes, Hobbycraft’s UK website is active and shows online shopping, delivery, click and collect, returns, help pages and gift card links. Availability may vary, so customers should check the current details directly on Hobbycraft’s website.

What happens if I have a Hobbycraft gift card?

If you have a Hobbycraft gift card, check the latest gift card terms on Hobbycraft’s official website. Store closures can affect where a card is convenient to use, but current terms should always be confirmed directly with the retailer.

Are more Hobbycraft stores likely to close?

Further closures should only be treated as confirmed if Hobbycraft announces them or reliable sources report them. Time Out reported in August 2025 that Hobbycraft had not confirmed whether more shops were at risk of closure.

Who owns Hobbycraft?

Hobbycraft has been owned by Modella Capital since August 2024, according to Time Out. Modella Capital has also been linked to other UK retail acquisitions and restructuring activity.

What can shoppers use instead of a closed Hobbycraft branch?

Shoppers can check nearby Hobbycraft stores, order from Hobbycraft online, use local independent craft shops, visit haberdashery stores, or compare other online craft suppliers. The best option depends on the type of craft product needed and how quickly it is required.

Editorial Note and How We Checked

This article was checked against Hobbycraft’s official store-status page, retail news coverage of the 2025 closures, and public information about retail restructuring.

The closure list separates officially listed closed stores from wider reporting so readers can understand what is confirmed and what should be checked before travelling.

The article is informational only and is not financial, legal or insolvency advice. Customers, employees, suppliers or landlords affected by any closure should check official updates or seek relevant professional guidance where needed.

Source links:

• Hobbycraft Official Store Status Page
• Insider Media – Hobbycraft Store Closures Full List
• Time Out – Hobbycraft Stores Closing List
• Peterborough Matters – Full List of Hobbycraft Stores Closing
• Metro – Full List of Hobbycraft Store Closures