High street retailers across the UK started 2020 facing tough conditions as customers increasingly looked towards online competitors, but no-one could have predicted the level of turmoil in store. The coronavirus pandemic has led to temporary closures, social distancing and dwindling tourist numbers, which all weighed on UK towns and cities - including in Leeds. A raft of retailers cut jobs, closed stores and secured restructuring deals to survive. However, for some companies, none of these measures were sufficient to preserve their place on the high street. Here are the biggest retailers to disappear from Leeds since March 2020:
7. Mothercare
The health, beauty and baby products chain was 2020's first major casualty, shutting the doors of its UK stores for good after 59 years. The last Leeds store close was in Crown Point Retail Park
8. Carphone Warehouse
In March, technology retail giant Dixons Carphone wielded the axe on its Carphone Warehouse chain, closing all of its standalone UK stores including in Leeds. Outlets inside Currys PC World, in Albion Street, White Rose and Guiseley, remain open. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
9. Cath Kidston
The retro-inspired retailer tumbled into administration in April 2020 after a downturn in profitability. The company closed all of its 60 UK stores, including the Leeds Queens Arcade shop, with the loss of 900 jobs, as the pandemic proved to be the final straw. Photo: PA Wire/Mike Egerton
10. TM Lewin
Formal menswear sales dived after the pandemic struck, weighing on already troubled retailer TM Lewin. The 122-year-old firm’s entire network of 66 shops closed last year, with the loss of around 600 jobs. The Leeds store was located in the Victoria Quarter Photo: PA Wire/Dominic Lipinski
11. Oasis and Warehouse
More than 1,800 jobs were lost after sister fashion chains Oasis and Warehouse said they would not reopen any of their stores again in April. Boohoo has bought the brands which are now sold online-only Photo: Google
12. Karen Millen
Boohoo also bought Karen Millen, closing its stores - including in Briggate Photo: Google