The popular store, located in The Mall Blackburn, is among 145 Claire’s branches set to shut permanently after administrators were unable to secure a buyer for the full business.
Planning a night out? See the live What’s On in Blackburn calendar.
While a rescue deal announced earlier this week saw 156 stores across the UK saved by investment firm Modella Capital, the Blackburn store was not included in the agreement.
A closing-down sale is now underway, with 20% discounts across the store – ahead of its expected closure in the coming weeks.
The move follows Claire’s UK business entering administration in August 2025, placing over 2,100 jobs at risk across its UK and Ireland network. While around 1,000 jobs have been secured through the partial sale, many employees – including those at Blackburn – now face redundancy.
Administrators at Interpath said on Monday that they were “continuing to trade the remaining portfolio of stores for as long as we can,” but confirmed this weekend that the unsold branches would now close for good.
Claire’s was once a go-to destination for accessories, gifts, and fashion items – especially for younger shoppers. The Blackburn store has long been a fixture in the town centre and news of its closure will come as a blow to loyal customers.
❝ It’s sad to see another big-name retailer disappearing from Blackburn’s high street ❞
This closure is part of a wider trend affecting town centres across the country. According to the Centre for Retail Research, over 17,000 UK stores are expected to shut this year, with job losses in the retail sector forecast to surpass pandemic-era levels.
The administrators said staff at the affected Claire’s stores had now been informed, with the majority of closures set to be completed by mid-October.
If you’ve shopped at Claire’s in Blackburn over the years, share your memories with us in the comments or on our Facebook page.
