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WHSmith 'on track' to start disappearing from High Street this monthThe deal, which was agreed in March and values the high street chain at £76 million, will see the WH Smith name disappear

from British high streets, much to the sadness of loyal shoppers.CommentsNewsWilliam Morgan Reporter04:34, 05 Jun 2025Updated 05:10, 05 Jun 2025WH Smith will be gone from town and city

centres by the end of June(Image: undefined via Getty Images) WHSmith has confirmed it's on course to finalise the sale of its iconic UK stores to Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital by month's

end, marking the end of an era for WHSmith shops on the British High Street.

The agreement, struck in March and putting a £76 million price tag on the high street empire, will see the familiar WH Smith signage replaced by the TGJones brand.

‌ As part of the acquisition, roughly 480 shops and their 5,000 employees will transition to Modella Capital's ownership.

‌ Ahead of the finalisation, WHSmith has reported that its travel division – the outlets sprinkled across airports, railway stations, and hospitals – is thriving, with like-for-like sales

climbing by 5 per cent in the last quarter.

The high street chain's handover to Modella Capital, helmed by the same bosses behind Hobbycraft, will usher in a new era as the WHSmith name bows out from town centres, to be replaced by

new TG Jones branding.

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beautiful bill'Shoppers will no longer see the iconic WH Smith on the High StreetArticle continues below The group's travel sector, which has been the star performer in recent years,

encompassing over 1,200 stores in 32 countries, remains untouched and continues to be the main profit driver, reports Bristol Live.

The high street stores, now deemed a "much smaller part" of the business, are set for a complete overhaul under their new owners.

Group chief executive Carl Cowling remarked: "As we continue to deliver on our strategic ambition to become the leading global travel retailer, this is a pivotal moment for WHSmith as we

become a business exclusively focused on travel.

‌ "As our travel business has grown, our UK high street business has become a much smaller part of the WHSmith Group.

High Street is a good business; it is profitable and cash generative with an experienced and high-performing management team.

"However, given our rapid international growth, now is the right time for a new owner to take the high street business forward and for the WHSmith leadership team to focus exclusively on our

travel business. I wish the High Street team every success."

Article continues below The transaction with Modella Capital lands at an enterprise value of £76 million on a cash and debt-free basis, with the investment firm known for its portfolio in

retail including names like Paperchase and Tie Rack.

This past August, Modella Capital bagged arts and crafts giant Hobbycraft for an amount they kept under wraps. The offloading of WHSmith comes after what seemed like an eternity of

speculation with various potential buyers believed to be jostling to claim the iconic British retailer.

The transaction ending with Modella's acquisition has seen WHSmith amid rumours and negotiations with multiple potential buyers, including private equity firms Hilco and Alteri showing

keenness after the sale initiative kicked off late last year.