In another hit to domestic shoppers, Claire’s Accessories is closing down en masse across the UK and Ireland after entering into administration once again.
Falling into an unfortunate financial status for the second time in less than a year, Claire’s will be shutting down all of their standalone stores across Britain, along with their IE branches.
A total of 154 stores will soon disappear, with more than a thousand people set to be put out of work.
Once a mainstay of British high streets up and down the country, the accessory shop known for all things jewellery, piercings and more has ceased trading effective immediately.
Announced at the start of the week and the end of the first full month of Q2, it was confirmed that Claire’s closed their final locations on Monday, 27 April.
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With administrators, Kroll, appointed to wrap up business proceedings, an estimated 1,300 English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh workers have now lost their jobs.
Founded way back in 1961 over in the United States, Claire’s has operated across the Atlantic for more than three decades.
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However, with various other contemporaries and cheaper online options having appeared over the years, they’ve struggled not just to remain profitable but to compete full stop.
They most recently filed for bankruptcy in the US this past August (2025), with their Belgian, Spanish, and Dutch divisions having already called it quits.
Manchester location(s) have changed a lot over time, but now they’re on the way out (Credit: Arndale)
For many, the outcome isn’t all that surprising, but it will nevertheless be a sad loss for many who have seen multiple generations visit these venues over the years.
Greater Manchester shoppers can take part in a real-life supermarket sweep competition
Emily Sergeant
Aldi is giving Greater Manchester shoppers the chance to take part in a real-life supermarket sweep for charity.
Building on the success of Aldi Scotland’s long-running initiative – which has raised more than £60,000 for charity over the past decade – Aldi is bringing its successful ‘Supermarket Sweep’ fundraiser to England and Wales for the first time, and shoppers from across Greater Manchester will have the chance to take part for a brilliant cause.
10 winners will be selected to take part in the challenge at their local Aldi store, racing against the clock to fill their trolley with Aldi products in just five minutes.
Once the dash is complete, Aldi will donate the full value of each winning trolley to Teenage Cancer Trust, helping to support young people with cancer across the UK.
Unfamiliar with Supermarket Sweep the TV show? This is how it works.
Shoppers can take part in a real-life supermarket sweep competition / Credit: Aldi
The game consists of three teams of two, each with a clock that starts with 60 seconds on it. The teams then attempt to add as much time as possible to their clock by answering questions and riddles posed by the host. The time they accumulate determines how long they have in the ‘Big Sweep’ round to run around a studio mock-up of a supermarket, collecting shopping items.
The team with the shopping trolley filled with items of the most value wins the chance to enter the final ‘Super Sweep’ prize round.
Speaking as entries to the unique competition open this week, Julie Ashfield, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: “Our customers are always incredibly supportive of the causes we champion, and we’re pleased to be bringing this much-loved fundraising initiative to England and Wales for the first time.
“We can’t wait to give shoppers the opportunity to put their trolley-dashing skills to the test, while helping to raise vital funds for Teenage Cancer Trust. Every pound raised will help the charity continue providing specialist care and support to young people with cancer when they need it most.”
The competition is now open, with entries closing at 23:59 on Tuesday 4 August.
To enter, you’ll simply need to email [email protected] with your details for the chance to win, and you can find all the terms and conditions here.
Featured Image – Aldi
Shopping
Salford City drop first new kit ahead of new era for the football club
Danny Jones
Salford City FC have finally dropped the first new kit for the team’s new era, with the native second city side having fully reverted to orange and black as their core colours and a fresh club crest late last year.
The local club, which was famously bought by Manchester United’s ‘Class of ’92’ and businessman Peter Lim back in 2014, is now embarking on its next chapter and a “new identity” – starting with going back to the days of old when it comes to the badge and official palette.
After the change was initially announced last October following feedback from an extensive fan review, a first glimpse at the rebooted badge, which calls back to previous versions, and the details behind it were revealed this past December.
Fast forward to Wednesday, 8 July, and the latest away shirt incorporating the new (and old) core design tenets has been released in full glory; here’s a closer look:
As you can see, the white-base alternate strip features the iconic adidas three stripes in orange across the shoulders and sleeves as a representation of their new primary colour, but keeps the second accent often used on home, away and/or third kits in recent years.
Keeping the black with an orange trim on the neck and cuffed short sleeves, Ammies can almost certainly expect some kind of inversion of the trio on the main for the home shirt.
Perhaps most notably, leading global insurer AIG is printed across the front and the new principal sponsor, continuing their partnership with the organisation and replacing Fireball Whisky after a short stint as the lead brand logo.
Unsurprisingly, some Salford supporters have noted that it is reminiscent of Man United kits from 2006-2010, who were also sponsored by the company.
Elsewhere, international technology consultancy Accenture features across the upper portion of the back of the shirt, and British wellness retailer Holland & Barrett appear on the left-hand sleeve.
Finally, the kit is completed with white shorts that also feature orange stripes and a black and orange trim, and customised ‘SCFC’ white socks.
Salford’s Lionesses women’s team will wear black shorts with orange stripes instead. What do you make of the first fresh shirt of the new era, Salfordians?
Danny Jones -
28th April 2026 
