British Heart Foundation Confirms Store Closures Across the North East..
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
20th July 2026
Five British Heart Foundation branches across Teesside and County Durham are set to close as part of a major reduction in the charity’s national high-street network.
The charity has today officially published the first list of 87 shops and Home Stores that will permanently shut, they include branches in Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham City, Newton Aycliffe and Consett.
Local stores facing closure
The branches officially named for closure across the Teesside and County Durham area are:
Hartlepool Home Store — 103–105 Middleton Grange, TS24 7RL
Stockton-on-Tees — 119–120 High Street, TS18 1AA
Durham City — 79 North Road, DH1 4SQ
Newton Aycliffe — 40 Beveridge Way, DL5 4DS
Consett — 6 Middle Street, DH8 5QJ
Neighbouring North East branches in Sunderland, South Shields and Blyth are also included in the first wave of closures.
The loss of the Hartlepool Home Store will represent yet another significant departure from the areas embattled Middleton Grange Shopping Centre. The store which provides residents with access to affordable second-hand furniture, electrical goods and household items has been a known staple on the local highstreet, while also accepting donations that help fund the charity’s medical research.
Stockton’s branch occupies a prominent position on the town’s High Street, while the Durham shop is located on North Road, close to the city’s bus station and main shopping area.
Part of a much larger closure programme
The British Heart Foundation announced earlier in June that it was proposing to close around 150 of its approximately 640 shops and stores over two financial years.
Around 90 branches are expected to close by the end of March 2027, with the remaining closures penned in for March 2028. A further 63 stores are reportedly still being reviewed and may be included in the next wave of potential closures.
The charity said the decision followed a detailed review of its retail estate amid rising operating costs and changing customer habits. It said some branches were no longer financially sustainable and that reducing the size of its network was necessary to protect the money generated for cardiovascular research.
British Heart Foundation chief executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths described the retail environment as “exceptionally challenging” and acknowledged the importance of the shops to staff, volunteers and the communities they serve.
She said the organisation’s priority remained funding research into cardiovascular disease and that difficult decisions were needed to maintain the long-term contribution made by its retail operation.
Staff and volunteers affected
The closures are likely to affect both paid employees and the large number of volunteers who help operate the shops.
The British Heart Foundation said it would support affected colleagues and volunteers during the process. Customers can continue shopping and donating items as normal while the named branches remain open.
Following the closures, the charity said donations could continue through remaining nearby shops, clothing and donation banks, home-collection services in participating areas and its postal donation scheme.
Another setback for local high streets
The announcement will add to concerns about the continuing loss of recognised retailers and community services from town centres across the region.
Charity shops have become an important part of many local high streets, providing lower-cost clothing, furniture and household goods while raising money for national causes. Their closure also leaves another challenge for shopping centres and councils already attempting to fill vacant retail units.
The exact closing dates for each of the five local branches have not yet been publicly confirmed, although they form part of the first announced wave of 87 closures meaning they’re likely to be closed either by the end of 2026 to Early 2027.
Residents wishing to donate furniture, clothing or other goods are advised to contact their local store before traveling, particularly as individual closure dates begin to be announced.
