Cardzone is not shutting every UK shop. It is closing selected stores, and the latest reported case is the Card Centre branch in Newport, which has started a closing down sale. Cardzone still says it operates more than 150 shops across the UK.
What is happening to Cardzone stores?
Recent reporting shows that Cardzone has been reducing its high street estate for some time. Retail Gazette reported on 27 July 2026 that the company had already closed several branches since 2023, including stores in Beeston, Blackpool, Chesterfield, King’s Lynn, Kirkby in Ashfield, Reigate, Scunthorpe and Stroud. The same report said its Didcot store stopped trading in January 2026 after an “everything must go” sale.
LBC later reported that Cardzone had closed nine shops in 2026, with Newport’s Card Centre becoming the latest closure linked to the group. The Sun also reported that the Newport branch had launched a 20 percent closing down sale, although no final closure date had been confirmed at the time of publication.
Which UK stores have closed or are closing?
| Location | Status | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| Beeston | Closed in 2026 | LBC listed it among the nine closures. |
| Kirkby in Ashfield | Closed in 2026 | LBC listed it among the nine closures. |
| Reigate | Closed in 2026 | LBC listed it among the nine closures. |
| Stroud | Closed in 2026 | LBC listed it among the nine closures. |
| King’s Lynn | Closed in 2026 | LBC listed it among the nine closures. |
| Scunthorpe | Closed in 2026 | LBC listed it among the nine closures. |
| Blackpool | Closed in 2026 | LBC listed it among the nine closures. |
| Chesterfield | Closed in 2026 | LBC listed it among the nine closures. |
| Didcot | Closed in January 2026 | Retail Gazette and The Sun reported the closure. |
| Newport Card Centre | Latest reported closure | LBC and The Sun reported the branch was closing with a 20 percent sale. |
Why are the stores closing?
Cardzone has said that most of its locations are leased, and that this creates risk for the business. In its own statement quoted by LBC, the company said most stores operate on leases of less than five years and there are no guarantees that lease renegotiations will succeed. Retail Gazette carried the same point in its report on the closures.
The Sun also reported that the wider wave of closures has taken place during a period of higher costs and lower footfall on the high street. That sits alongside Cardzone’s lease pressure and helps explain why some branches are being shut when agreements come up for review.
How big is Cardzone now?
Cardzone’s own website says it is a family owned business established in 2005 and that it still has more than 150 stores across the UK. It says its brands include Cardzone, Mooch, Paper Kisses, Hallmark, Yankee Candle and Card Centre. Retail Gazette also reported that the group continues to operate more than 150 shops.
Global Vision International Closure | Latest Updates, Reasons, and What It Means
Global Vision International (GVI) has officially closed and entered a formal liquidation process. All current and future volunteer, conservation, and community development programs have…
What this means for shoppers
For shoppers, the main point is that Cardzone is still trading, but not every local branch is secure. In Newport, The Sun reported that the nearest Cardzone store after the closure would be the Card Centre at Castle Court Shopping Centre in Caerphilly. That shows the changes are affecting local access in some towns, even while the wider chain remains open.
The company’s latest public reporting suggests the closures are tied more to leases and site costs than to the shutdown of the whole brand. That means more local changes may follow when individual leases end or cannot be renewed.
