On average, 37 shops closed every day in the UK in 2024. That is according to data from the Centre for Retail Research. It makes for bleak reading as we come to the close of the first quarter of 2025, which appears to indicate a slight rebound.
The high street’s decline is not news and it is no secret as to the major driver of its demise. With e-commerce fast becoming the primary method of purchase in the UK, there is very little need for the physical stores that once made up the typical high street.
However, digitalisation is not a problem unique to retail. Many other industries in this country and further afield have had to grapple with the issue and have done so in different ways. So, how exactly has the internet affected other industries, and how have they adapted?
Gaming in the UK: an Industry intrinsically linked with the High Street
In times gone by, the British high street would have been something of a multifaceted destination. Prior to the proliferation of supermarkets, you would have found your town centre butchers and grocers, as well as your more luxury outlets. Additionally, even venues like bingo halls and casinos would have dotted the street.
And it’s this final example that is of particular interest. Gambling venues like casinos have a long history in this country and are a regular sight in big towns and cities. The internet was revolutionary for that sort of gaming in a way not unlike it has been for retail. The 90s and 2000s saw the introduction of online casinos that allowed people to play at home.
Fast forward to 2025 and every game you could think of is digitised. What’s notable, too, is the introduction of live casino real-dealer games, which mimic the physical experience of playing at a real venue. Karamba is a popular casino in the UK that offers live casino games like roulette and blackjack. These games have managed to strike the balance of what made the brick-and-mortar experience popular and translate it to the internet.
Blockbuster figures for a struggling cinema landscape
Another popular former high street regular, the cinema, very much finds itself in the same position as retail. Once the only place to be for the latest big-budget releases, people are now largely staying away from the cinema as cost-of-living constraints, and the ease of streaming have combined to create a perfect storm.
It’s a sorry tale for a once proud destination pastime. The BBC reports that two large cinema chains have suffered administration and its fallouts. Both Empire and Cineworld entered administration in 2023 before the former sold a number of its venues to Irish operator Omniplex. Cineworld, however, was unable to agree on a buyout.
It looks to be the end of the multiplex. The size of these theatres is as much the problem as the streaming revolution as more operators pivot to offering small, boutique experiences. Further, that same BBC report did discuss positivity from industry leaders who believe 2025’s lineup of films could be a shot in the arm. Perhaps reports of the industry’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Is there anything to be done for retail in the UK?
Looking at how other industries have dealt with the shift from physical to digital, you would be forgiven for feeling despondent. However, there might be a common thread that can tie the three together. That is their former positions as stalwarts of the high street.
The modern high street can’t rely on remaining as it is. Put simply, towns and cities have changed and suburbanised. People are much less likely to live in the centre of town, which means that high streets have to become destinations again. One way to do that is for councils to pull together and build diverse high streets that incorporate a number of amenities.
A main street with shops, gaming venues, and cinemas could be a boon for all industries. Increased footfall in town centres will greatly improve performance for all. A rising tide lifts all ships, and this should shape future planning for British cities and towns.
