At least 10 shops and venues in Hanley have either closed in 2025, are set to shut or are facing an uncertain future
Aerial view of Hanley(Image: RMC42/Shutterstock)
It has been a difficult year so far for high streets up and down the country – and Hanley has been no exception. New shops, restaurants and bars have opened in the city centre since the start of 2025.
These include luxury clothing shop La Cherie which launched in the former Poundstretcher premises, in Town Road, as well as BBQ restaurant Micii which has opened on Piccadilly.
Other businesses – like Holland & Barrett – have simply relocated in Hanley, while others have undergone a refurbishment. Meanwhile, The Dougie Mac has snapped up the old Carpetright unit – on Etruria Road – and is set to open next month.
But other businesses have shut for good after giving up on Hanley, while some are facing an uncertain future amid the challenging retail climate.
Here are 10 shops and venues in Hanley that have either closed, are set to shut or are facing an uncertain future in 2025
Sale Lab
Sale Lab in Hanley has closed
A shop that filled the void left behind by the closure of M&S closed in another big blow to the city centre. Posters went up in the windows of Sale Lab’s flagship branch in Upper Market Square, Hanley, earlier this month confirming the news.
The fashion retailer cited rising shoplifting incidents, increasing costs and a lack of police for the reasons behind the decision. It explained that it had trialled a number of different approaches to boost sales but it was no longer sustainable.
They said staff had little control over protecting stock and the store had run at a loss for ‘an extended period’. The company – which has stores across the East Midlands – added that it would run occasional pop-up shops but had no plans to reopen the store.
Full story here
Game
Game in Hanley is shutting
Retailer Game is set to shut its city centre store next month. The store, which specialises in a range of consoles, games and accessories, has been in Hanley’s Potteries Centre for several years.
But signs went up in August announcing that it will close in September. Bosses at the Potteries Centre say the ‘announcement came without prior warning to the centre management’.
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Bloom
Bloom Hanley
One of the most popular bars in Stoke-on-Trent announced its closure in January. Bloom Hanley – famed for its bottomless brunches and cocktails – opened for the final time on January 19.
The Piccadilly venue has since relaunched at the Strangled Cat which has become a popular nightspot in the city centre.
Full story here
Captain’s Bar
A city centre bar also announced its closure earlier in the summer. Captain’s Bar opened in Hanley during the Covid pandemic after entrepreneur Ash Wall had previously run Pilgrim’s Pit.
But the Lichfield Street venue confirmed it was shutting for good from June 2. The news came after the business faced increasing costs.
Full story here
GameGrid
A city centre gaming hub is to shut. GameGrid opened in Astral House, in Hanley, almost three years ago and has delivered hundreds of birthday parties and thousands of gaming experiences.
But it is to close for good on September 21 after being battered by the rising cost of living and increased operational costs. It was launched following the merger of XPVR and RaceGrid.
Full story here
TGI Fridays
TGI Fridays in Hanley
TGI Fridays shut its Stoke-on-Trent restaurant forever back in April. The news came after a rescue deal for TGI Fridays saw 51 restaurants acquired by new owners.
The Hanley restaurant in Etruria Road no was one of those initially saved from closure but the stay of execution didn’t last long and the venue then shut for good.
Full story here
Pig & Picthfork
Restaurant Pig & Pitchfork closed for good in the new year. It had moved into the old Klay Pizzeria – in the Hanley Cultural Quarter – in 2023 but the venue brought the shutters down in January.
It boasted a prime position opposite The Regent Theatre.
Full story here
Claire’s
Fears have also been raised for the future of high street chain Claire’s Accessories,. The retailer currently has an outlet inside the Potteries Centre in Hanley with others in Newcastle-under-Lyme and at Affinity Staffordshire in Talke.
But the jewellery and fashion brand has appointed a company to help it find a new buyer, according to reports. However, there are currently no plans to close any UK stores and they continue to trade as normal but its website has stopped taking orders.
Full story here
River Island
River Island in the Potteries Centre, Hanley
River Island announced earlier in the summer that its flagship Potteries Centre will close. However, the fashion retailer is currently planning to keep the large two-storey shop open until January 2026.
It is among 33 branches across the UK that are set to close as part of a major restructure.
Full story here
New Look
Another Potteries Centre store facing an uncertain future is New Look. The fashion chain’s owners have reportedly picked bankers to oversee a strategic review of the brand. Sky News reports that Rothschild has been appointed to advise New Look and its shareholders, in a process which could result in the high street chain being sold off in the future.
Nothing has been officially announced by New Look and the company continues to trade as normal. New Look has almost 340 stores and employs about 10,000 people across the UK. That includes four North Staffordshire stores. New Look has branches at The Potteries Centre, in Hanley; on Festival Park; and in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Leek town centres.
Full story here
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